Bill Repealing Lifetime Ban for
Food Stamp Assistance Sponsored by
Sen. Curls Will Become Law

Measure also includes various public assistance provisions

JEFFERSON CITY — Legislation decades in the making will make a difference to those Missourians looking to get back on their feet after turning down the wrong path.  Senate Bill 680, sponsored by Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City, was recently signed by the governor and will repeal the lifetime ban for food stamp assistance in Missouri for those who have a drug felony conviction.

“No other felony conviction bans individuals from receiving food stamp assistance, this includes those who are convicted of murder, child molestation and rape,” said Sen. Curls.  “My legislation levels the field for individuals who receive these important benefits, ensuring those who want to return to society as productive citizens have the chance to move past the stigma of being a past offender.”

Senate Bill 680 also:

• Establishes a pilot program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to have access to and the ability to afford fresh produce and other healthy products at farmers’ markets.
• Adds food stamps to the ban on the use of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits on electronic benefit (EBT) cards in certain businesses to purchase alcohol, lottery tickets, or tobacco products, among other items. 
• Temporarily suspends benefit payments to EBT accounts when recipients of TANF or SNAP benefits fail to make at least one transaction in Missouri within a 90-day period (60 days for EBT transactions) in order to address fraud in the welfare system.

“This extremely important piece of legislation works on behalf of all state citizens, from those who utilize public assistance in the way it is intended, to those hard-working tax payers who help support vital programs designed to provide their fellow Missourians with a way to get them back on the right track,” said Sen. Curls.  “I’m proud the governor recognized the true bipartisan effort on Senate Bill 680 by signing it into law last week.”

Senate Bill 680 will take effect on Aug. 28, 2014.  To see a complete list of Sen. Curls’ sponsored bills, visit www.senate.mo.gov/curls.