Subdivision 1. Person convicted of drug offenses. (a) If an applicant or recipient has been convicted of a drug offense after July 1, 1997, the assistance unit is ineligible for benefits under this chapter until five years after the applicant has completed terms of the court-ordered sentence, unless the person is participating in a drug treatment program, has successfully completed a drug treatment program, or has been assessed by the county and determined not to be in need of a drug treatment program. Persons subject to the limitations of this subdivision who become eligible for assistance under this chapter shall be subject to random drug testing as a condition of continued eligibility and shall lose eligibility for benefits for five years beginning the month following:
(1) any positive test result for an illegal controlled substance; or
(2) discharge of sentence after conviction for another drug felony.
(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, "drug offense" means a conviction that occurred after July 1, 1997, of sections 152.021 to 152.025, 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 offense occurred after July 1, 1997, and the conviction is a felony offense in that jurisdiction, or in the case of New Jersey, a high misdemeanor.
Subd. 2. Parole violators. An individual violating a condition of probation or parole or supervised release imposed under federal law or the law of any state is ineligible to receive benefits under this chapter.
Subd. 3. Fleeing felons. An individual who is fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody, or confinement after conviction for a crime that is a felony under the laws of the jurisdiction from which the individual flees, or in the case of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor, is ineligible to receive benefits under this chapter.
Subd. 4. Denial of assistance for fraud. An individual who is convicted in federal or state court of having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to the place of residence of the individual in order to receive assistance simultaneously from two or more states is ineligible to receive benefits under this chapter for ten years beginning on the date of the conviction.
History:1997 c 85 art 3 s 28; 1997 c 203 art 12 s 15; 2005 c 136 art 7 s 21