D.C. Law 23-31. Access to Public Benefits Amendment Act of 2019.

AN ACT

To amend the District of Columbia Public Assistance Act of 1982 to extend the opt out from denying Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to certain drug felons to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and other locally funded non-TANF cash assistance benefits.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Access to Public Benefits Amendment Act of 2019".

Sec. 2. Section 571 of the District of Columbia Public Assistance Act of 1982, effective April 6, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-101; D.C. Official Code § 4-205.71), is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 571. Granting cash and food assistance benefits to drug felons.

"An adult who is a drug felon shall not be denied cash or food assistance benefits, including TANF, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , POWER, GAC, or Interim Disability Assistant benefits, solely because he or she is a drug felon.".

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.