N.C.-SUBMIT TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK IF YOU WANT Welfare.

[Danno 1,228]

SUBMIT TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK IF YOU WANT BENEFITS.

Some North Carolina legislators agreed Tuesday to require county social service workers to perform criminal background checks on people seeking welfare and food stamps.

The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to make the checks mandatory in all county Department of Social Services offices for people applying for the benefits or for renewing their application to keep receiving them. The DSS office also would have to tell law enforcement agencies if an applicant is a fugitive or is wanted on an outstanding warrant.

DSS offices can now perform the formal background checks if they wish, or they can simply ask the participant if he or she is in trouble with the law. Federal law prohibits people who are subject to arrest warrants for violating probation or parole or for a felony charge from receiving public assistance benefits.

Food and Nutrition Services, the formal term for food stamps, provides debit cards to low-income families. Work First — North Carolina’s welfare program, which is paid through the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families — provides cash assistance and job training.

“We absolutely have to make sure our aid goes to law-abiding citizens first,” said state Rep. Dean Arp, R-Union, one of the bill’s primary sponsors. “This is a reasonable provision to ensure that.”

In Union County, Arp said, officials at the county DSS office were told they could no longer provide criminal information to sheriff’s deputies because of confidentiality restrictions.

“It’s outrageous to think that our current law could even be interpreted to say that DSS cannot notify law enforcement,” said Rep. Bert Jones, R-Rockingham.

But some speakers at the committee meeting questioned who would pay for the criminal background checks and whether the legislation would require all current recipients to be scrutinized, two valid concerns.

There were nearly 822,000 people benefiting from food stamps in North Carolina during February while the Work First caseload was about 21,400 in March, according to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services.

“Right now, the county (DSS offices) are just strapped. We can’t afford another unfunded mandate,” said Lori Ann Harris, a lobbyist representing the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services. Harris said she received information that criminal history checks cost $38 apiece.

Some social service workers say they are worried about turning in personal information — including Social Security numbers and physical descriptions — about applicants who came to their offices for help but were in trouble with the law, Harris said.

“If people think they’re going to be punished or arrested for even coming to seek our services, then that’s a big concern for us,” she said. “We look to be friendly, not adversarial.”

Wait, what?

Julie Henry, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Tuesday evening in an email that agency officials were looking at the issue addressed in the bill and gathering information from the federal government.

Arp said a fiscal review of the measure by the General Assembly’s research staff said the bill’s cost to local governments is unclear. He said the situation will create a safer environment because officials will know who is coming through their doors.

Rep. Nathan Baskerville, D-Vance, told Arp he’s worried someone could harm a person’s qualifications to receive benefits simply by going to a magistrate’s office and taking out a warrant against them even though the allegations are a paper tiger.

However, applicants with outstanding warrants can still qualify for benefits once they are no longer subject to arrest. Benefit eligibility by other people in the applicant’s household wouldn’t be affected by the applicant’s criminal status, the bill says.

Still, Arp acknowledged criminal warrants can be abused, but added that it’s “no reason not to do the right thing.”

[lostinblue 1,989]

The left will hate this . Only gun owners should have criminal background checks.

[Danno 1,228]

The left will hate this . Only gun owners should have criminal background checks.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Wait. Let me guess.

This will be considered an infringement of rights OR racist by the same people that want to ban guns and large capacity magazines.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Wait. Let me guess.

This will be considered an infringement of rights OR racist by the same people that want to ban guns and large capacity magazines.

My guess would be racist. It will be said, how do you expect these poor people to come in and get this done. Many live miles away from the welfare office.

[Karee 4,190]

Whoever wrote the article needs to go back to school. This isn't a criminal background check they are asking for. They are wanting to know if someone is wanted. Big difference.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

But some speakers at the committee meeting questioned who would pay for the criminal background checks and whether the legislation would require all current recipients to be scrutinized, two valid concerns.

Those are my questions as well. I'm also curious which crimes would deem someone unfit to receive benefits and which would be excused.

[Karee 4,190]

Those are my questions as well. I'm also curious which crimes would deem someone unfit to receive benefits and which would be excused.

I get from the article that it has nothing to do with whether or not you have committed a crime, it has to do with if there is a warrant out for your arrest. That's my take on it anyway.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I get from the article that it has nothing to do with whether or not you have committed a crime, it has to do with if there is a warrant out for your arrest. That's my take on it anyway.

The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to make the checks mandatory in all county Department of Social Services offices for people applying for the benefits or for renewing their application to keep receiving them. The DSS office also would have to tell law enforcement agencies if an applicant is a fugitive or is wanted on an outstanding warrant.

It sounds like they want a criminal background check and if DSS does find someone who is a fugitive or wanted, they have to report them to the authorities.

That's how I understood it.

[Karee 4,190]

It sounds like they want a criminal background check and if DSS does find someone who is a fugitive or wanted, they have to report them to the authorities.

That's how I understood it.

I don't see anything wrong with that.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Only gun owners should have criminal background checks.

It might be a good idea to have criminal background checks for recipients of welfare as well, in addition to gun owners.

One should not wish ineligible individuals to get guns no more that one should wish one to have access to welfare.

If NC could enforce both checks it might be a good idea.

Edited April 4, 2013 by Gegel

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I don't see anything wrong with that.

Me neither.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I don't have any problem with criminal background checks for welfare recipients either.

Shame, Danno and his buddies aren't getting the "liberal" response they were hoping for.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I don't have any problem with criminal background checks for welfare recipients either.

Shame, Danno and his buddies aren't getting the "liberal" response they were hoping for.

Maybe we should pretend to be against it so that his world makes sense again.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Maybe we should pretend to be against it so that his world makes sense again.

Sounds good, he does have a quota to keep.