Public Safety Through Food Access Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 564

Short Title: Public Safety Through Food Access Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Burgin, Mayfield, and Mohammed (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S564-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ALLOW THE STATE TO FULLY OPT -OUT OF THE PROHIBITIO N ON 2
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY 3
FAMILIES (TANF) BENE FITS FOR INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF FELONI ES TO 4
BETTER ENABLE THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCT IVE 5
LIVES. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
SECTION 1. G.S. 108A-25.2 reads as rewritten: 8
"§ 108A-25.2. Exemption from limitations for individuals convicted of certain drug-related 9
drug related felonies. 10
Individuals convicted of Class H or I controlled substance felony offenses in this State shall 11
be An individual who is otherwise eligible to participate in the Work First Program and or the 12
food and nutrition services program:program shall be exempt from the applicati on of section 13
115(a) of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 14
P.L. 104 -193, and shall not be denied assistance from either program solely because the 15
individual has been convicted of a drug related felony or felonies upon meeting one of the 16
following conditions: 17
(1) Six months after release from custody if no additional controlled substance 18
felony offense is committed during that period and If the individual can 19
demonstrate successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program 20
while in custody or continuous active participation in a required substance 21
abuse treatment program determined appropriate by the area mental health 22
authority; orauthority. 23
(2) If not committed to custody, six months immediately after the date of 24
conviction if no additional controlled substance felony offense is committed 25
during that period and the individual can demonstrate successful completion 26
of or continuous active participation in a required substance abuse treatment 27
program determined appropriate by the area mental health authority. 28
A county department of social services shall require individuals who are eligible for Work 29
First Program assistance and electronic food and nutrition benefits pursuant to this section to 30
undergo substance abuse treatment as a condition for receiving Work First Program or electronic 31
food and nutrition benefits, if funds and programs are available and to the extent allowed by 32
federal law." 33
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective January 1, 2026. 34