SF 2868

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/28/2025 09:58 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public assistance; changing which offenses affect eligibility for benefits;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 142G.18, subdivision 1; 256D.024,
subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.18, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Person convicted of drug offenses.

(a) An individual who has been
convicted of a felony level drug offense during the previous ten years from the date of
application or recertification is subject to the following:

(1) Benefits for the entire assistance unit must be paid in vendor form for shelter and
utilities during any time the applicant is part of the assistance unit.

(2) The convicted applicant or participant may be subject to random drug testing.
Following any positive test for an illegal controlled substance, the county must provide
information about substance use disorder treatment programs to the applicant or participant.

(b) Applicants requesting only SNAP benefits or participants receiving only SNAP
benefits, who have been convicted of a felony-level drug offense during the previous ten
years from the date of application or recertification may, if otherwise eligible, receive SNAP
benefits. The convicted applicant or participant may be subject to random drug testing.
Following a positive test for an illegal controlled substance, the county must provide
information about substance use disorder treatment programs to the applicant or participant.

(c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "drug offense" means a conviction that occurred
during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification of sections
152.021 deleted text begin to 152.025 deleted text end new text begin , 152.022 new text end , 152.0261, 152.0262, 152.096, or 152.137. Drug offense also
means a conviction in another jurisdiction of the possession, use, or distribution of a
controlled substance, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, if the conviction
occurred during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification and
the conviction is for a crime that would be a felony if committed in Minnesota.

(d) This subdivision does not apply for convictions or positive test results related to
cannabis, marijuana, or tetrahydrocannabinols.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.024, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Person convicted of drug offenses.

(a) An individual who has been
convicted of a felony-level drug offense during the previous ten years from the date of
application or recertification may be subject to random drug testing. The county must provide
information about substance use disorder treatment programs to a person who tests positive
for an illegal controlled substance.

(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, "drug offense" means a conviction that occurred
during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification of sections
152.021 deleted text begin to 152.025 deleted text end new text begin , 152.022 new text end , 152.0261, 152.0262, or 152.096. Drug offense also means a
conviction in another jurisdiction of the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled
substance, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, if the conviction occurred during
the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification and the conviction is
for a crime that would be a felony if committed in Minnesota.

(c) This subdivision does not apply for convictions or positive test results related to
cannabis, marijuana, or tetrahydrocannabinols.