HOUSE BILL OKS DRUG OFFENDERS IN 'FAMILIES FIRST'

Felony drug offenders would be eligible for the state's ''Families First''
program and for food stamps if they are in a drug treatment program and
meet other conditions under a bill that narrowly made it through the House
yesterday and was sent to Gov. Don Sundquist.

The House vote was 51-36 with six members present but not voting. Fifty
affirmative votes are necessary to pass a bill in the House. The same bill
cleared the Senate last week on a 29-0 vote.

''This is a bill designed to help families get on the path of recovery,''
said the sponsor, Rep. Rob Briley, D-Nashville.

Briley said federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony drug offense
from participating in the food stamp program, but a state can opt out of
that requirement.

Rep. Ken Boyer, R-Corryton, asked if an individual who goes through the
program and is convicted of a felony drug offense for the second time could
go through the program again.

Briley said nothing in the legislation prevents that from happening.

Under the bill sent to the governor, a drug offender would be eligible for
food stamps and Family First assistance under the following conditions:

. The offender is participating in a substance abuse program approved by
the Department of Human Services.

. The offender is on a substance abuse treatment program waiting list and
must enroll in the program at the first opportunity.

. The offender has satisfactorily completed a substance abuse treatment
program approved by the department.

. The offender is certified by a treatment provider not to need treatment.

. The offender has complied with all obligations imposed by criminal court.

Anyone convicted of the most serious kind of felony drug offense, Class A,
or anyone convicted of a hate crime would be ineligible for the program.