| 12 | 13 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 |
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| 13 | 14 | | AN ACT TO ALLOW THE STATE TO FULLY OPT -OUT OF THE PROHIBITION ON 2 |
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| 14 | 15 | | FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY 3 |
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| 15 | 16 | | FAMILIES (TANF) BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF FELONIES TO 4 |
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| 16 | 17 | | BETTER ENABLE THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE 5 |
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| 17 | 18 | | LIVES. 6 |
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| 18 | 19 | | The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7 |
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| 19 | 20 | | SECTION 1. G.S. 108A-25.2 reads as rewritten: 8 |
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| 20 | 21 | | "ยง 108A-25.2. Exemption from limitations for individuals convicted of certain drug-related 9 |
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| 21 | 22 | | drug related felonies. 10 |
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| 22 | 23 | | Individuals convicted of Class H or I controlled substance felony offenses in this State shall 11 |
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| 23 | 24 | | be An individual who is otherwise eligible to participate in the Work First Program and or the 12 |
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| 24 | 25 | | food and nutrition services program:program shall be exempt from the application of section 13 |
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| 25 | 26 | | 115(a) of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 14 |
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| 26 | 27 | | P.L. 104-193, and shall not be denied assistance from either program solely because the 15 |
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| 27 | 28 | | individual has been convicted of a drug related felony or felonies upon meeting one of the 16 |
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| 28 | 29 | | following conditions: 17 |
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| 29 | 30 | | (1) Six months after release from custody if no additional controlled substance 18 |
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| 30 | 31 | | felony offense is committed during that period and If the individual can 19 |
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| 31 | 32 | | demonstrate successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program 20 |
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| 32 | 33 | | while in custody or continuous active participation in a required substance 21 |
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| 33 | 34 | | abuse treatment program determined appropriate by the area mental health 22 |
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| 34 | 35 | | authority; orauthority. 23 |
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| 35 | 36 | | (2) If not committed to custody, six months immediately after the date of 24 |
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| 36 | 37 | | conviction if no additional controlled substance felony offense is committed 25 |
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| 37 | 38 | | during that period and the individual can demonstrate successful completion 26 |
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| 38 | 39 | | of or continuous active participation in a required substance abuse treatment 27 |
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| 39 | 40 | | program determined appropriate by the area mental health authority. 28 |
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| 40 | 41 | | A county department of social services shall require individuals who are eligible for Work 29 |
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| 41 | 42 | | First Program assistance and electronic food and nutrition benefits pursuant to this section to 30 |
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| 42 | 43 | | undergo substance abuse treatment as a condition for receiving Work First Program or electronic 31 |
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| 43 | 44 | | food and nutrition benefits, if funds and programs are available and to the extent allowed by 32 |
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| 44 | 45 | | federal law." 33 |
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| 45 | 46 | | SECTION 2. This act becomes effective January 1, 2026. 34 |
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