Senate Panel Passes Nutrition-eligibility Plan For Reformed Drug Felons

Indianapolis – A proposal to lift a ban on nutrition-program eligibility for reformed drug felons has advanced in the Indiana Senate. The Indiana Catholic Conference supports the measure.

 Indiana is one of a handful of states that bans convicted drug felons from receiving certain federally operated nutrition benefits. If Sen. Michael Bohacek, R-Michigan City, has his way, former drug felons who meet certain criteria to reform their lives would be eligible for food assistance under the federal program called Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP.

 Senate Bill 11, authored by Bohacek, would remove the permanent ban from food assistance under SNAP for convicted drug felons, as long as they followed their parole guidelines or their release plan determined by the court.   The Senate Family and Children Services Committee passed the bill on Jan. 11 by a 7-0 vote.

 “When someone is released from prison, the goal is to reintegrate them into society and to make them a productive member,” Sen. Bohacek said. “And we do that by providing the supports (for them) to be able to become productive. When someone is incarcerated, they have been separated from family and friends. They’ve lost a lot of connections. And depending on the crime, especially if it’s a drug crime, they may not be eligible for public housing or certain licensing in certain occupations; and now we are restricting them from nutrition.”

“If they move back in with family, as many of them do, if the family is eligible for SNAP, and the felon is not, they are going to be utilizing the program as well,” Sen. Bohacek added. “They are going to be taking the SNAP benefits designed for four people, and now it’s feeding five. To me, it’s high time to give these folks the tools to keep them out of the judicial system and out of prison.”

Glenn Tebbe, executive director of the Indiana Catholic Conference who testified in support of the bill before the Senate panel. “All persons have a right to food and shelter. Individuals, after serving their sentence and being released from jail or prison, have many obstacles when rejoining the community,” Tebbe said. “In addition to family adjustments, employment is often denied because of the conviction and prison record. Many employers refuse to hire them, which contributes to recidivism. When jobs are available, often these are temporary or part-time. SNAP assistance is tangible and needed. This benefit will go a long way to help people maintain themselves and their dignity.

“Persons who have paid their debt and attempting to rectify past mistakes should be given the opportunity to prove themselves and be eligible for support and programs that can assist them and affirm their human dignity,” said Tebbe. “Current law banning food assistance tends to punish someone after that person has already made restitution for their misdeeds. Assisting those to change their lives for the better is what all persons deserve, and I believe how Jesus responded to all those who sought his help.”

Cheryl Ashe, a volunteer with Dismas House of South Bend since 2007, helps reintegrate people into society after they leave prison. “Family members can offer a sofa or couch to sleep on, but food is a problem,” said Ashe. “Even with SNAP, people still must go to one or two food pantries a month. Most can get their canned goods and bread at a food pantry, but use their SNAP benefits to buy milk, meat, eggs and other dairy items,” she said. “A single person with no dependents who is not working gets $192 per month in SNAP benefits. A single person without dependents can only receive SNAP benefits for three months every three years, unless they are working 20 hours per week, enrolled in an approved job-training program or disabled.”

Ashe, who chairs the Social Justice Committee at her South Bend parish of St. Augustine, said some families are denied SNAP due to how the benefit formula works. She explained that there are households with children that are denied SNAP benefits because the parent who was previously convicted of a drug felony is not counted. “If the parent were counted in the calculation for the household, the household would be eligible for SNAP,” said Ashe. “Families and children are hurt under current law due to the SNAP-benefits ban for former drug felons.”

Tebbe said he expects S.B. 11 to pass the full Senate before the third reading deadline in the Senate, which is Feb. 6.  If S.B. 11 passes the Senate, it will move to the House for further consideration.

For more information on the Indiana Catholic Conference priority bills, go to www.indianacc.org .