JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Senate Bills 680 and 727 received attention from several national justice and hunger groups — including Celebrities for Justice -—who sent a letter on Tuesday to Governor Nixon and urging him to sign the bills.
SB727, sponsored by Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, modifies provisions relating to farmers’ market and SNAP benefits. The bill allows those with either state or federal drug-related felonies to be eligible for food stamps if they complete a substance abuse program, comply with parole, lack further offenses, and pass a drug test. SB680, sponsored by Senator Kiki Curls, creates the same requirements for SNAP benefits, as well as creating other provisions related to TANF and EBT.
The letter shares that Missouri is currently one of nine states that permanently denies food stamps to individuals with drug-related felony convictions. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have fully opted out of the ban. Twenty-five states have modified the federal ban, in some instances requiring individuals to comply with community-based treatment before eligibility is restored. Currently, federal law permits states to pass legislation in order to lift the ban.
The groups urge a signature on the basis that it is important for Missourians with these convictions to be able to support themselves and their families while being able to get treatment for any addictions they may have upon reintroduction.
“If [drug-related convicted felons] can’t do get jobs or pay child support, then we need to give them an opportunity to succeed and be functional in public,” Chappelle-Nadal said. “We want them to be productive members of society. We don’t want them to have to go back to jail because they are trying to feed their family.”
The groups contend that the lift of the ban on will improve public safety, ensure availability of treatment programs, and stimulate the economy.
Chappelle-Nadal shared further benefits of SB727 regarding health because of the bill allowing SNAP to be used at farmers’ markets.
“I wanted to encourage people to consume fruits and vegetables and the more it comes from the state of Missouri, the more we are helping out our own economy and working together,” Chappelle-Nadal said. “We have to build a bridge between urban and rural Missouri – a great way to do that is through agriculture.”
Chappelle-Nadal also said that the bill brings in an additional $6 million to general revenue.
The bills received bipartisan support in both chambers. Both bills also had Republican handlers in the House. SB727 was handled by Rep. Delus Johnson, R-Buchanan County, who Chappelle-Nadal shared had an identical bill that he sponsored with the same intention of uniting rural and urban Missouri through farmers’ markets.
Groups to sign the letter include AdvoCare, Inc.: Focused on Smart on Crime Solutions, All of Us or None, Bread for the World, Celebrities for Justice, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, Community of Christ, Crossroad Bible Institute, Drug Policy Alliance, Ella Baker Center, Gamaliel, In the Public Interest, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Justice for Families, and Lifelines to Healing.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
