1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public assistance; changing which offenses affect eligibility for benefits;
1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 142G.18, subdivision 1; 256D.024,
1.4 subdivision 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.18, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Person convicted of drug offenses.(a) An individual who has been
1.8convicted of a felony level drug offense during the previous ten years from the date of
1.9application or recertification is subject to the following:
1.10 (1) Benefits for the entire assistance unit must be paid in vendor form for shelter and
1.11utilities during any time the applicant is part of the assistance unit.
1.12 (2) The convicted applicant or participant may be subject to random drug testing.
1.13Following any positive test for an illegal controlled substance, the county must provide
1.14information about substance use disorder treatment programs to the applicant or participant.
1.15 (b) Applicants requesting only SNAP benefits or participants receiving only SNAP
1.16benefits, who have been convicted of a felony-level drug offense during the previous ten
1.17years from the date of application or recertification may, if otherwise eligible, receive SNAP
1.18benefits. The convicted applicant or participant may be subject to random drug testing.
1.19Following a positive test for an illegal controlled substance, the county must provide
1.20information about substance use disorder treatment programs to the applicant or participant.
1.21 (c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "drug offense" means a conviction that occurred
1.22during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification of sections
1Section 1.
25-04212 as introduced02/24/25 REVISOR DTT/LJ
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2868NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: CLARK and Abeler)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/24/2025
Referred to Health and Human Services 2.1152.021 to 152.025, 152.022, 152.0261, 152.0262, 152.096, or 152.137. Drug offense also
2.2means a conviction in another jurisdiction of the possession, use, or distribution of a
2.3controlled substance, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, if the conviction
2.4occurred during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification and
2.5the conviction is for a crime that would be a felony if committed in Minnesota.
2.6 (d) This subdivision does not apply for convictions or positive test results related to
2.7cannabis, marijuana, or tetrahydrocannabinols.
2.8 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.024, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.9 Subdivision 1.Person convicted of drug offenses.(a) An individual who has been
2.10convicted of a felony-level drug offense during the previous ten years from the date of
2.11application or recertification may be subject to random drug testing. The county must provide
2.12information about substance use disorder treatment programs to a person who tests positive
2.13for an illegal controlled substance.
2.14 (b) For the purposes of this subdivision, "drug offense" means a conviction that occurred
2.15during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification of sections
2.16152.021 to 152.025, 152.022, 152.0261, 152.0262, or 152.096. Drug offense also means a
2.17conviction in another jurisdiction of the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled
2.18substance, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, if the conviction occurred during
2.19the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification and the conviction is
2.20for a crime that would be a felony if committed in Minnesota.
2.21 (c) This subdivision does not apply for convictions or positive test results related to
2.22cannabis, marijuana, or tetrahydrocannabinols.
2Sec. 2.
25-04212 as introduced02/24/25 REVISOR DTT/LJ