Junk Food Junked from Ban on Use of SNAP Money at Strip Clubs

The Florida House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee approved Monday a slimmed down bill dictating how federal public assistance debit cards issued through the state can be used.

The bill, HB 1401, as proposed, continues to ban the use of the debit cards issued through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), including the program better known as food stamps, from being used at ATMs located in strip clubs, Internet cafes, liquor stores and bottle clubs.

Subcommittee members, opposed to government mandating what people can and cannot eat, agreed to move the bill forward after its sponsor, Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, agreed to cut out the snack foods prohibitions -- including ice cream, doughnuts and candy -- from his proposal.

It would be up to the state Department of Children and Families to electronically shut access to the cards at prohibited locations, Plakon said.

Read more about the proposal here.