A bill by Senator Will Parkinson, discussed during session today, would allow those with felony drug convictions to qualify for SNAP benefits. A 1990’s federal law banned drug felons from the food assistance programs, but only Guam and South Carolina have yet to opt out. Parkinson says even violent criminals like murderers and rapists can qualify for SNAP when they're released.

"More often than not, people coming out of our prison system need some form of assistance to adjust back into society. SNAP and TAMP provide basic food assistance to those who could not otherwise afford it," the first-time policymaker said. "We have also seen how natural disasters like Typhoon Mawar have made it increasingly difficult for our people to buy necessities like food with the Disaster SNAP program currently ongoing.

"Thousands of people every day are lining up for assistance and those with former drug felonies should be allowed to line up with them."

Fellow freshman Senator Tom Fisher sought to amend the bill to require drug felons who receive the benefits to submit to regular drug testing. The amendment fell short.

After reconsideration of the bill late Tuesday afternoon, the Fisher amendment passed and the Parkinson bill was passed onto the Third Reading File for later voting.