RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT IF AMENDED REGARDING AB 508 (SWANSON), FOOD STAMPS: ELIGIBILITY: DRUG FELONIES

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, under current state law, persons convicted for possession or use are eligible to receive food stamps if they can prove completion of, participation in, or placement on a waiting list with a treatment program or if they can provide other evidence that they no longer illegally use controlled substances; and

WHEREAS, those convicted for transporting, selling, furnishing, manufacturing, possessing for sale controlled substances or other similar crimes are prohibited from receiving food stamps and TANF related benefits; and

WHEREAS, a lifetime ban disqualifying a person due to a felony drug conviction ignores the basic needs of the individual and does not accommodate those who are no longer involved with controlled substances; and

WHEREAS, AB 508 would repeal all lifetime disqualifications from food stamps for all persons convicted of a felony involving controlled substances; and

WHEREAS, AB 508 would also eliminate the condition of proving completion of, participation in, or placement on a waiting list with a treatment program or other evidence that the proposed recipient no longer illegally use controlled substances;

WHEREAS, drug abuse is a serious problem that often requires treatment programs, which are an effective method of reducing drug abuse but can be resisted by the those suffering with drug addiction

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors by adoption of this resolution supports AB 508 (Swanson), Food stamps: eligibility: drug felonies if it is amended to preserve existing law that conditions receipt of food stamps on completion of, participation in, or placement on a waiting list for a treatment program or other evidence that the client no longer illegally uses controlled substances.

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