Florida Senate - 2026                             CS for SB 1462
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and
       Senator Bracy Davis
       
       
       
       
       586-02454A-26                                         20261462c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to temporary cash assistance
    3         eligibility; amending s. 414.095, F.S.; providing that
    4         benefits may not be denied to certain persons solely
    5         on the basis of a drug trafficking conviction under
    6         certain circumstances; providing an effective date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 414.095, Florida
   11  Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         414.095 Determining eligibility for temporary cash
   13  assistance.—
   14         (1) ELIGIBILITY.—An applicant must meet the eligibility
   15  requirements of this section before receiving services or
   16  temporary cash assistance under this chapter, except that an
   17  applicant is shall be required to register for work and engage
   18  in work activities in accordance with s. 445.024, as designated
   19  by the local workforce development board, and may receive
   20  support services or child care assistance in conjunction with
   21  such requirement. The department shall make a determination of
   22  eligibility based on the criteria listed in this chapter. The
   23  department shall monitor continued eligibility for temporary
   24  cash assistance through periodic reviews consistent with the
   25  food assistance eligibility process. Benefits may not be denied
   26  to an individual solely based on a felony drug conviction,
   27  unless the conviction is for trafficking pursuant to s. 893.135.
   28  An individual may not be denied benefits solely on the basis of
   29  a drug trafficking conviction pursuant to s. 893.135 if the
   30  conviction was obtained during a period of time in which the
   31  department has determined the individual was an active victim of
   32  human trafficking, as defined in s. 943.0583(1). To be eligible
   33  under this section, an individual convicted of a drug felony
   34  must be satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the temporary
   35  cash assistance program, including all substance abuse treatment
   36  requirements. Within the limits specified in this chapter, the
   37  state opts out of the provision of Pub. L. No. 104-193, s. 115,
   38  that eliminates eligibility for temporary cash assistance and
   39  food assistance for any individual convicted of a controlled
   40  substance felony.
   41         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.