Everybody has to eat.
Sen Bohacek authored SB 11 which generally permits those who have been convicted of drug offenses to be eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As I understand it, current law prohibits such offenders from getting SNAP assistance — presumably under the general theory that if they weren’t druggies, they’d get a job and be able to buy food. So, it’s their own damn fault. I think the pendulum is swinging these days such that we are starting to take a more nuanced view of addiction.
In any case, this bill has Indiana exercising its prerogative to extend benefits to such offenders so long as they have successfully completed their terms of probation or parole or, if probation/parole is ongoing, they are in compliance.
The fiscal note says that the federal government bears the cost of providing the additional benefits while the state picks up about 50% of the administrative cost with respect to administering the benefit program. So, there would be something of an increase to state expenditures but most of it would be federal expense.
I wonder if the pendulum is swinging because more middle class whites have developed a drug addiction.
Probably. But, I’ll take progress on policy even if the motivation is not what we’d prefer it to be.