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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 270 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FELONS
1 Section 270 Change #18-2021 September 20, 2021 FNS 270 Controlled Substance Felons Change #18-2021 September 20 2021 270.01 REQUIREMENT FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FELONS A. The following individuals are considered Controlled Substance Felons and are permanently disqualified from receiving FNS benefits unless they meet the exception listed in FNS 270.02 Exceptions to Permanent Disqualification: 1. An individual who both committed and was convicted under federal or State law on or after August 23 , 1996, of any offense classified as a felony by the law of the jurisdiction involved with an element of the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance; or 2. In New Jersey anyone convicted of a drug related crime and sentenced to serve one year or more in prison is considered a drug felon for FNS purposes. B. Things to consider when determining Controlled Substance Felons eligibility: 1. This includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and SNAP recipients. 2. The justice system often combines two or more charges together to form a Habitual Felon charge. Do not consider the Habitual Felon charge itself, you must consider the individual charges that make up the Habitual Felon charge. 3. Postponed convictions are not considered convictions while in the postponed period. 4. Deferred prosecutions are not considered convictions until the deferral is removed. 5. Only the drug related convictions are countable. Charges for probation or parole violations stemming from the drug felony conviction are not counted. C. Controlled Substance Felons provisions do not apply to the following individuals: 1. Individuals convicted of a controlled substance felony offense committed on or before August 22, 1996. 2. Individuals convicted of a felony offense other than a controlled substance felony offense. 3. Individuals with “deferred prosecutions” as these individuals have not been convicted until the deferral is removed.