When do felons deserve voting rights, food benefits?

When has a felon paid his debt to society?

A law being championed by State Sen. Dan Hughes would deny welfare to recipients proven to be using illegal drugs, but that's not the issue.

What if convicted felons have served their time, fall upon hard times, and apply for food stamps?

Or, what if they want to become fully involved in society by voting in the next election?

A legislative committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would allow felons to vote immediately after finishing their sentences, rather than waiting two years as currently required by law.

About 7,800 Nebraska felons would be affected by the change.

The current two-year limit was a political compromise to make sure the 2005 law would be passed, according to the former senator who co-sponsored the bill.

Another bill would allow Nebraskans with major or multiple felony drug convictions to qualify for federal food assistance, repealing the current lifetime ban.

Proponents say the change would make it easier for such felons to reintegrate with society.

Nebraska denies Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to anyone convicted of three felony drug possession charges or one felony distribution charge.

Sen. Adam Morfield said the bill would ultimately save money because SNAP is federally funded and cheaper than sending a felon back to jail at a cost of nearly $36,000 a year. SNAP benefits cost an average of $258 a month.

Health and Human Services opposes the change, saying the threat of losing SNAP benefits is an incentive for drug users to seek treatment.

Proponents say the current system has many innocent victims, families of felons denied food assistance.

An average of 649 Nebraskans were denied food assistance between 2015 and 2016, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Many drug felons were convicted for selling marijuana, a drug which is legal in Colorado and other states.

Whether and when to allow felons to help set state policy, and to provide help for those trying to get back on their feet, are tough questions for the Legislature to deal with.