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Minutes for HB2215 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Allowing persons with felony drug convictions to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Minutes Content for Wed, Jan 26, 2022
Chairperson Owens opened the hearing on HB2215. Natalie Scott gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1) Ms. Scott stood for questions.
Erin Melton testified in support of the bill. She stated that passing this bill would help make Kansas a place where every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive. This bill would remove the modified ban for Kansans with drug related felony convictions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Disqualification of adults means that their family and children are more likely to face hunger and economic instability. When an individual is disqualified from the food assistance program under this rule, their income and assets are still counted towards the household maximum limit, but they are not counted as a household resident when determining eligibility and benefit amount. This is a significant problem for those with more than one drug related felony conviction and facing lifetime ineligibility and whose household then face lower or no benefits forever. She urged the committee to vote in favor of the bill so Kansas can join many other states in removing this barrier. (Attachment 2) Ms. Melton stood for questions.
Karen Siebert testified in support of the bill. She stated it is already a struggle for people with low incomes and felony convictions to find employment, housing and healthcare. Denying them food assistance increases the risk they will return to illicit activities to meet their basic needs. Access to food can help sustain recovery from addiction, promote public safety and reduce recidivism. (Attachment 3) Ms. Siebert stood for questions.
Haley Kottler testified in support of the bill. She stated that food insecurity continues to rise with estimates showing that 1 in 8 Kansans is food insecure, meaning they may not know where their next meal will come from. SNAP is one of the most effective programs to keep Kansans out of poverty. (Attachment 4) Ms. Kottler stood for questions.
Nicholas Reinecker testified in support of the bill in a very narrow scope. He stated his proponent testimony has to do with the fact that he doesn't believe someone who can grow certain plants should be banned from assistance. He also stated there is a difference between food insecurity and nutrition security. (Attachment 5) Mr. Reinecker stood for questions.
Jami Reever presented the testimony of Colleen Cross to the committee in support of the bill. Ms. Reever stated that Ms. Cross had a family member who was incarcerated for a drug conviction and she saw first hand how hard it was for him to achieve stability upon his release. We want inmates to come out of prison rehabilitated. In order for rehabilitation to work, formerly incarcerated individuals need help. Some want to see them go to a food bank or soup kitchen rather than take the easy approach of applying for SNAP benefits. There is nothing easy about rebuilding your life after being released from prison. (Attachment 6) There were no questions for Ms. Reever.
Josh Gaines testified in support of the bill. He stated this bill was developed and approved by the Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission as part of its work to increase public safety and reduce spending by improving supervision and expanding second chance opportunities. He shared that federal law has permanently prevented anyone with a state or federal felony drug conviction from receiving SNAP benefits unless the state administering the benefits chooses to opt out of the ban. Thirty-one states have fully opted out of the ban. Kansas is among the eighteen states that have partially opted out of the full federal ban but the modified ban implemented in its place is among the strictest in the country. People who have been through the criminal justice system, especially those who have battled addiction, are among the most likely to need and directly benefit from food assistance. (Attachment 7) Mr. Gaines stood for questions.
Pastor Carl Frazier testified in support of the bill. He stated that drug penalty bans keep people in poverty. People with criminal records already have a much harder time getting and keeping employment. Lack of access to food assistance keeps people in poverty, perhaps making it more likely they will re-offend in order to feed themselves or their families. This ban on access to food assistance negatively affects families since the ex-offender isn’t counted as a member of the family. They are seen as having a smaller family and get less in food assistance. (Attachment 8) There were no questions for Pastor Frazier.
Andy Hubbard testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hubbard shared his personal story with drug addiction and the hurdles he faced in his journey to currently being 1230 days clean. He implored the committee to repel the ban on felons receiving SNAP benefits. (Attachment 9) There were no questions for Mr. Hubbard.
Susan Stevens testified in support of the bill. She stated we have institutionalized policies ensuring that those driven to make poor choices and commit crimes out of desperation are weighed down with obstacles in finding gainful employment and obtaining nutritious food, housing, healthcare, and other resources. (Attachment 10) There were no questions for Ms. Stevens.
Written only testimony in support of the bill was submitted by
- Lindsie Ford, Public Policy Attorney, Kansas Coalition against Sexual & Domestic Violence (Attachment 11)
- Carol Olson, Chair of the Allen County Multi-Team Agency Coalition (Attachment 12)
- Ami Hyten JD, Executive Director, Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (Attachment 13)
- Marquetta Atkins, Founder and Executive Director of Destination Innovation, Inc. and Progeny (Attachment 14)
- Tracy Keagle, Founder and Executive Director, Humanity House (Attachment 15)
- P J Carter, Director, Black Lives Matter, Topeka KS (Attachment 16)
- Teresa Miller, President and CEO, Kansas Health Foundation (Attachment 17)
- Stuart Little, Kansas Food & Farm Coalition (Attachment 18)
- Cat Butler, Private Citizen (Attachment 19)
Written only neutral testimony was submitted by Andrea Warnke, on behalf of Department for Children & Families. (Attachment 20)
Steven Greene, on behalf of Opportunity Solutions Project (OSP), testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Greene acknowledged many advocates at the hearing today have dedicated years working with individuals involved in the correctional system but he asked what data is there that we could currently assess whether or not this policy consideration makes sense. He said the emphasis the current statute has regarding successful completion of a drug treatment program is really why OSP opposes this bill. They believe treatment is a critical first step towards helping individuals with a substance use disorder recover. Mr. Greene highlighted that this bill lacks any requirement for work or work-related activity such as community service or vocational training as a condition for receiving food assistance. (Attachment 21) Mr. Green stood for questions.
Chairperson Owens closed the hearing on HB2215.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:42 PM.
