SNAP Ban Study Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (28 Aug 2023): Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.
What this bill does
H.R. 4855, the SNAP Ban Study Act, would direct the Comptroller General of the United States—the head of the Government Accountability Office—to conduct a study examining the effects of the federal ban on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for people convicted of drug-related felonies, a provision originally established under the 1996 welfare reform law. The bill does not change existing law or eligibility rules; it only requires research and reporting.
The study would look at how states have implemented, modified, or repealed the ban; recidivism rates among those convicted of drug use, distribution, or trafficking offenses; effects on recipients' well-being, family formation, work, income, and education; costs to government if the ban were changed; unpaid restitution and taxes owed by affected individuals; and the economic and SNAP-use impacts on family members of people who died from drug misuse. It also asks GAO to assess the quality of existing research on this topic. This mainly affects policymakers and agencies involved in SNAP administration and criminal justice policy, as well as individuals with drug felony convictions who are subject to the current ban.
The bill was introduced in the House on July 25, 2023, by Rep. Eric "Rick" Crawford and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It has not received a vote and, per its current status, has seen no further action since introduction.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
SNAP Ban Study Act
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study to evaluate the effects of provisions that ban individuals who are convicted of drug felonies from participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Specifically, GAO must evaluate the effects of (1) the post-incarceration ban on participation by individuals convicted of a drug felony, and (2) state waiver provisions allowing for participation by these individuals. (The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 bars convicted drug felons from participating in SNAP; however, a state may opt to serve such felons by waiving or modifying the requirement.)
The GAO must submit a report to Congress on the study and make the report publicly available on the agency's website.
Timeline
28 Aug 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4855 do?
- H.R. 4855, the SNAP Ban Study Act, would direct the Comptroller General of the United States—the head of the Government Accountability Office—to conduct a study examining the effects of the federal ban on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for people convicted of drug-related felonies, a provision originally established under the 1996 welfare reform law. The bill does not change existing law or eligibility rules; it only requires research and reporting. The study would look at how states have implemented, modified, or repealed the ban; recidivism rates among those convicted of drug use, distribution, or trafficking offenses; effects on recipients' well-being, family formation, work, income, and education; costs to government if the ban were changed; unpaid restitution and taxes owed by affected individuals; and the economic and SNAP-use impacts on family members of people who died from drug misuse. It also asks GAO to assess the quality of existing research on this topic. This mainly affects policymakers and agencies involved in SNAP administration and criminal justice policy, as well as individuals with drug felony convictions who are subject to the current ban. The bill was introduced in the House on July 25, 2023, by Rep. Eric "Rick" Crawford and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It has not received a vote and, per its current status, has seen no further action since introduction.
- Has H.R. 4855 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 4855. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4855?
- H.R. 4855 was sponsored by Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] (R-AR), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4855?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture. (28 Aug 2023).
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