Sign AB 828 petition to remove lifetime ban of Calfresh for individuals with drug felony convictions

Please sign this petition to allow people with
drug-related felonies to receive foodstamps:
http://www.change.org/petitions/support-ab-828

Do you want to help hungry California families get nutritious food? Do you believe that people deserve a second chance?  Do you want to reduce prison costs in California?

The Women’s Policy Institute needs your support for the Nutritional Assistance for Families Act, A.B. 828.  Introduced by Assemblymember Swanson (D-16) and co-sponsored by the Women’s Foundation of California Western Center on Law and Poverty, the bill will help ensure that no one goes hungry. 

By 'opting out' of the federal lifetime ban on CalFresh assistance, California stands to receive benefits of up to $8.2 million from the federal food assistance program (SNAP). For every dollar spent by the state, CA will inject $2 to local economies at a time when all of our communities are hurting financially.  By removing this arbitrary and unfairly punitive lifetime ban, administrative burden and costs to the state will be reduced by eliminating additional burdensome eligibility determination measures.  Most importantly, providing people with food will help them successfully re-enter their communities and become self-sufficient.

Help us join thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia in ensuring the successful reintegration of people with former drug offenses, support A.B. 828 by:

1. Writing to your Senator (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html)
2. Signing our petition (http://www.change.org/petitions/support-ab-828 )
3. Inviting friends to join this facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-AB-828/227210493968835?sk=wall).

Supporters as of June 16, 2011: Alameda Cnty. Community Food Bank, Alameda Cnty. Board of Supervisors, All of Us or None, Books Not Bars (Ella Baker Center), CA Assn of Food Banks, CA Catholic Conference, CA Coalition for Welfare Rights, CA Coalition for Women Prisoners, CA Comm. on the Status of Women, CA Food Policy Advocates, CA Hunger Action Coalition, CA National Organization for Women, CA Pan-Ethnic Health Network, CA Partnership, CA Prison Moratorium Project, CA Public Defenders Association, CA Rural Legal Assistance Fdn., CURB, City and County of San Francisco, Coalition of CA Welfare Rights Orgs., Community Works, Cnty. Welfare Directors Assn. of CA, Drug Policy Alliance, East Bay Community Law Center, Food For People, Fresno Metro Ministry, Friends Committee on Legislation, Having Our Say!, Homeless Action Center, Hunger Action Los Angeles, JERICHO, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, LIFETIME, LA Community Action Network, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Nat’l Assn. of Social Workers, CA, Salud Para La Gente, San Diego Hunger Coalition, Second Harvest Food Bank S.C. Cnty., Senate Select Community Comm. on CA’s Correctional System, St. Anthony’s San Francisco, St. Mary’s Center, Stop the Cuts Coalition Alameda Cnty., Time for Change Foundation, Transition Clinic, Western Center on Law & Poverty, Women’s Foundation of California.