SB31 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Food stamps and welfare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), persons with felony drug conviction, federal law provisions making ineligible, provision for persons to be eligible under certain conditions

Summary

SB31 would let Alabama residents with drug-related felony convictions qualify for TANF and SNAP after finishing their sentence or while on probation, with a three-year sunset for the law.

What This Bill Does

Under current federal rules, people with drug-related felonies are typically not eligible for TANF or SNAP. This bill would allow those individuals to receive TANF and SNAP after they complete their sentence or while on probation, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements and have completed mandatory drug treatment if applicable. The law would automatically expire three years after it becomes effective.

Who It Affects

• Drug-related felony offenders in Alabama who would otherwise be disqualified from TANF or SNAP would become eligible after completing their sentence or while on probation, provided they meet other eligibility requirements.
• Alabama welfare program administrators and caseworkers who determine eligibility would need to apply the new rule and verify conditions like treatment completion.

Key Provisions

• Eligibility for TANF and SNAP for drug-related felony offenders who are otherwise ineligible becomes available after completion of the sentence or while satisfactorily serving probation (including completion of mandatory drug treatment) and meeting all other eligibility requirements.
• The act expires three years after the effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Criminal Law and Procedure