VIEW; substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients. (SB6)
Introduced By
Sen. Steve Martin (R-Chesterfield) with support from 6 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:
Progress
√ |
Introduced |
X |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
√ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients. Requires local departments of social services to screen each VIEW program participant to determine whether probable cause exists to believe the participant is engaged in the use of illegal substances. The bill provides that when a screening indicates reasonable cause to believe a participant is using illegal substances, the local department of social services shall require a formal substance abuse assessment of the participant, which may include drug testing. Any person who fails or refuses to participate in a screening or assessment without good cause or who tests positive for the use of illegal substances shall be ineligible to receive TANF payments for a period of one year, unless he enters into and complies with the requirements of a drug treatment program; however, an individual has one opportunity during the subsequent 12-month period to comply with the screening, assessment, or treatment requirements and be reinstated to eligibility for TANF benefits. View Full Text »
Comments
When all of the state representatives & senators have to do at least one random drug test during session, this bill will get my support. Both groups are receiving funds from the taxpayers, so why not test both? The data does not support the popular view that drug use is rampant among welfare recipents.
Why do I have to be drug tested to work and the recipients don't have to
be tested to receive tax payers money?
Jody ,It's not so much that drug use is rampant among welfare recipients but if I must take a drug test to get a job with the state then those that do nothing but get a check should be tested also. At least I'm willing to work for mine. If the testing shows it's not worth the cost in savings from those that get cut off, then stop the testing.
Remember, the state cannot give away anything that it has not taken from someone else.
Based on your illogical statement Wayne, anyone to whom the State gives money should be drug tested. Is there empirical data to support your position that testing is necessary among welfare folks as their drug use is out of control, who tend to be females with young kids? Or if we compel them to take vaginal ultrasounds, we'll so urine out of them instead. When do we set up the testing of State Senators, and Delegates, County Executives, Veterans, farmers, disabled kids, the unemployed, we give them money we got to test them. Tell me, once we get all this negative and positive pee, what do we do with the results? I think we should mail the results to Wayne and Helen and let them sort it out. So many things wrong in our economy and we waste our time and money on social issues that 98% of the people don't care about.
Post a Public Comment About this Bill