THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 1267
Temporary Cash Assistance Eligibility
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to temporary cash assistance
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eligibility; amending s. 414.095, F.S.; providing that
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benefits may not be denied to certain individuals
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solely on the basis of a drug trafficking conviction;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 414.095, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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414.095 Determining eligibility for temporary cash
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assistance.—
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(1) ELIGIBILITY.—An applicant must meet the eligibility
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requirements of this section before receiving services or
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temporary cash assistance under this chapter, except that an
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applicant is shall be required to register for work and engage
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in work activities in accordance with s. 445.024, as designated
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by the local workforce development board, and may receive
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support services or child care assistance in conjunction with
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such requirement. The department shall make a determination of
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eligibility based on the criteria listed in this chapter. The
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department shall monitor continued eligibility for temporary
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cash assistance through periodic reviews consistent with the
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food assistance eligibility process. Benefits may not be denied
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to an individual solely based on a felony drug conviction,
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unless the conviction is for trafficking pursuant to s. 893.135.
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An individual may not be denied benefits solely on the basis of
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a drug trafficking conviction pursuant to s. 893.135 if the
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department determines that the individual was a victim of human
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trafficking, as defined in s. 943.0583(1), at the time of the
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offense leading to such conviction. To be eligible under this
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section, an individual convicted of a drug felony must be
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satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the temporary cash
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assistance program, including all substance abuse treatment
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requirements. Within the limits specified in this chapter, the
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state opts out of the provision of Pub. L. No. 104-193, s. 115,
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that eliminates eligibility for temporary cash assistance and
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food assistance for any individual convicted of a controlled
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substance felony.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.