US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

21 U.S.C. § 862a

Denial of assistance and benefits for certain drug-related convictions

(a)

In general

section 802(6) of this titleAn individual convicted (under Federal or State law) of any offense which is classified as a felony by the law of the jurisdiction involved and which has as an element the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance (as defined in ) shall not be eligible for—
(1)
42 U.S.C. 601 assistance under any State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [ et seq.], or
(2)
7 U.S.C. 20127 U.S.C. 2011 benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ()) or any State program carried out under that Act [ et seq.].
(b)

Effects on assistance and benefits for others

(1)

Program of temporary assistance for needy families

42 U.S.C. 601The amount of assistance otherwise required to be provided under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [ et seq.] to the family members of an individual to whom subsection (a) applies shall be reduced by the amount which would have otherwise been made available to the individual under such part.

(2)

Benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008

7 U.S.C. 20127 U.S.C. 2011The amount of benefits otherwise required to be provided to a household under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ()), or any State program carried out under that Act [ et seq.], shall be determined by considering the individual to whom subsection (a) applies not to be a member of such household, except that the income and resources of the individual shall be considered to be income and resources of the household.

(c)

Enforcement

A State that has not exercised its authority under subsection (d)(1)(A) shall require each individual applying for assistance or benefits referred to in subsection (a), during the application process, to state, in writing, whether the individual, or any member of the household of the individual, has been convicted of a crime described in subsection (a).

(d)

Limitations

(1)

State elections

(A)

Opt out

A State may, by specific reference in a law enacted after , exempt any or all individuals domiciled in the State from the application of subsection (a).

(B)

Limit period of prohibition

A State may, by law enacted after , limit the period for which subsection (a) shall apply to any or all individuals domiciled in the State.

(2)

Inapplicability to convictions occurring on or before

Subsection (a) shall not apply to a conviction if the conviction is for conduct occurring on or before .

(e)

“State” defined

For purposes of this section, the term “State” has the meaning given it—
(1)
42 U.S.C. 619(5)42 U.S.C. 601 in section 419(5) of the Social Security Act [], when referring to assistance provided under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [ et seq.], and
(2)
7 U.S.C. 20127 U.S.C. 2011 in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (), when referring to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in that section) or any State program carried out under that Act [ et seq.].
(f)

Rule of interpretation

Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny the following Federal benefits:
(1)
42 U.S.C. 1396 Emergency medical services under title XIX of the Social Security Act [ et seq.].
(2)
Short-term, noncash, in-kind emergency disaster relief.
(3)
(A)
Public health assistance for immunizations.
(B)
Public health assistance for testing and treatment of communicable diseases if the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that it is necessary to prevent the spread of such disease.
(4)
Prenatal care.
(5)
Job training programs.
(6)
Drug treatment programs.

Pub. L. 104–193, title I, § 115110 Stat. 2180Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5516(a)111 Stat. 620Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, § 4115(c)(2)(C)122 Stat. 1109Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, § 4030(n)128 Stat. 814(, , ; , , ; , , ; , title IV, § 4115(c)(2)(C), , , 1871; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 53149 Stat. 620section 1305 of Title 42The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(1), (e)(1), and (f)(1), is , . Part A of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 601 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Pub. L. 88–52578 Stat. 703section 2011 of Title 7The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(2), and (e)(2), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Section was enacted as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and not as part of the Controlled Substances Act which comprises this subchapter.

Amendments

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4030(n)(1)7 U.S.C. 2012l2014—Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ()) or any State program carried out under that Act” for “food stamp program (as defined in section 3() of the Food Stamp Act of 1977) or any State program carried out under the Food Stamp Act of 1977”.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4030(n)(2)7 U.S.C. 2012lSubsec. (b)(2). , substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ()), or any State program carried out under that Act” for “food stamp program (as defined in section 3() of the Food Stamp Act of 1977), or any State program carried out under the Food Stamp Act of 1977”.

Pub. L. 113–79, § 4030(n)(3)7 U.S.C. 2012lSubsec. (e)(2). , substituted “section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (), when referring to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in that section) or any State program carried out under that Act” for “section 3(s) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, when referring to the food stamp program (as defined in section 3() of the Food Stamp Act of 1977) or any State program carried out under the Food Stamp Act of 1977”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(c)(2)(C)(i)l2008—Subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(2). , substituted “section 3()” for “section 3(h)”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(c)(2)(C)lSubsec. (e)(2). , substituted “section 3(s)” for “section 3(m)” and “section 3()” for “section 3(h)”.

Pub. L. 105–331997—Subsec. (d)(2). substituted “a conviction if the conviction is for conduct” for “convictions”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 4002(c) of Pub. L. 110–246section 2012 of Title 7References to the food stamp program established under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, now known as the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, considered to refer to the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under that Act, see , set out as a note under , Agriculture.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of Title 7Amendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Agriculture.

section 4115(c)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 110–246section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246section 1161 of Title 2Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–33, title V, § 5518(d)111 Stat. 621

Pub. L. 104–193Pub. L. 105–33section 612c of Title 7“The amendments made by this chapter to a provision of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 [] that have not become part of another statute [chapter 1 (§§ 5501–5518) of subtitle F of title V of , amending this section, sections 601 to 603, 604 to 608, 609 to 611, and 612 to 617 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and provisions set out as notes under , Agriculture, and sections 601 and 613 of Title 42] shall take effect as if the amendments had been included in the provision at the time the provision became law.”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

section 116 of Pub. L. 104–193section 601 of Title 42Section effective , with transition rules relating to State options to accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see , as amended, set out as an Effective Date note under , The Public Health and Welfare.