VIEW; substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients. (HB221)

Introduced By

Sen. Chris Head (R-Roanoke)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance 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 drugs. This bill provides that, when a screening indicates reasonable cause to believe a participant is using illegal drugs, 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 drugs 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. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/10/2012Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/12 12100551D
01/10/2012Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
01/20/2012Assigned HWI sub: #1
01/20/2012Impact statement from DPB (HB221)
01/23/2012Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB73-Bell, Richard P.)
02/14/2012Left in Health, Welfare and Institutions

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB598.

Comments

Helen Gregory writes:

This is good. People have to be drug tested for a job, why not be tested
to receive other peoples money while sitting home doing nothing.

Waldo Jaquith writes:

"People" don't have to be drug tested for a job, Helen. I've never been drug tested for a job, and I wouldn't take a job that required it of me. The fact that some percentage of private employers choose to do something doesn't make it a good idea.