SACRAMENTO — The California state Assembly approved a bill Thursday that would allow some convicted drug felons to collect food stamps without proving they are in treatment for their drug addiction.
Under the federally funded food stamps program, people convicted of drug felonies are banned from receiving the aid after they leave prison.
But states can opt out of that ban for certain drug felonies, as California has done since 2004, allowing drug offenders to apply — as long as they proved they were in a treatment program.
California lawmakers voted 42-23 Thursday to remove the treatment requirement and add convicted drug distributors to the list of those eligible to apply for food stamps. The vote was mostly along party lines, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing it.
About 900 California felons could become eligible for the food stamps, costing the federal government up to $1 million.
Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, D-Oakland, who introduced AB 1756, said allowing drug felons to get food stamps will help prevent recidivism. He said letting them get food stamps would help church groups and others with efforts at rehabilitating them.
"How are we going to stop seven out of 10 people from going back to prison?” Swanson asked.
Opponents say the bill rewards bad behavior and sends the wrong message.
The food stamps ban, which was included in the 1996 federal Welfare Reform Act, was intended to discourage drug offenders from subsidizing their drug habits.
"Is this intended to be a joke on the Legislature?” asked Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Riverside. "This is food stamps for drug dealers. Food stamps, taxpayer-funded, during a $20 billion deficit. ... How low can we go?”
The bill now moves to the Senate.
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