THE BILL ITSELF
CS/SB 1462
Temporary Cash Assistance Eligibility
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1462 By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and Senator Bracy Davis 586-02454A-26 20261462c1
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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 persons solely
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on the basis of a drug trafficking conviction under
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certain circumstances; 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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conviction was obtained during a period of time in which the
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department has determined the individual was an active victim of
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human trafficking, as defined in s. 943.0583(1). To be eligible
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under this section, an individual convicted of a drug felony
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must be satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the temporary
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cash 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.