S 1462

Florida Senate - 2026  CS for SB 1462
By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and
Senator Bracy Davis
586-02454A-26  20261462c1
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to temporary cash assistance
3eligibility; amending s. 414.095, F.S.; providing that
4benefits may not be denied to certain persons solely
5on the basis of a drug trafficking conviction under
6certain circumstances; providing an effective date.
7
8Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 414.095, Florida
11Statutes, is amended to read:
12414.095 Determining eligibility for temporary cash
13assistance.—
14(1) ELIGIBILITY.—An applicant must meet the eligibility
15requirements of this section before receiving services or
16temporary cash assistance under this chapter, except that an
17applicant is [shall be] required to register for work and engage
18in work activities in accordance with s. 445.024, as designated
19by the local workforce development board, and may receive
20support services or child care assistance in conjunction with
21such requirement. The department shall make a determination of
22eligibility based on the criteria listed in this chapter. The
23department shall monitor continued eligibility for temporary
24cash assistance through periodic reviews consistent with the
25food assistance eligibility process. Benefits may not be denied
26to an individual solely based on a felony drug conviction,
27unless the conviction is for trafficking pursuant to s. 893.135.
28An individual may not be denied benefits solely on the basis of
29a drug trafficking conviction pursuant to s. 893.135 if the
30conviction was obtained during a period of time in which the
31department has determined the individual was an active victim of
32human trafficking, as defined in s. 943.0583(1). To be eligible
33under this section, an individual convicted of a drug felony
34must be satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the temporary
35cash assistance program, including all substance abuse treatment
36requirements. Within the limits specified in this chapter, the
37state opts out of the provision of Pub. L. No. 104-193, s. 115,
38that eliminates eligibility for temporary cash assistance and
39food assistance for any individual convicted of a controlled
40substance felony.
41Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.