VIEW; substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients. (SB721)
Introduced By
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
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 Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare (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. In cases in which drug testing is required, the cost of testing shall be paid by the Department of Social Services. 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 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (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. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
12/03/2012 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 |
12/03/2012 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13100403D |
12/03/2012 | Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services |
01/17/2013 | Impact statement from DPB (SB721) |
01/18/2013 | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendments (8-Y 6-N) (see vote tally) |
01/18/2013 | Rereferred to Finance |
01/23/2013 | Impact statement from DHCD (SB0721) |
01/29/2013 | Committee substitute printed 13104703D-S1 |
01/29/2013 | Reported from Finance with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (see vote tally) |
01/30/2013 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/31/2013 | Impact statement from DPB (SB721S1) |
01/31/2013 | Read second time |
01/31/2013 | Reading of amendments waived |
01/31/2013 | Committee amendments rejected |
01/31/2013 | Reading of substitute waived |
01/31/2013 | Committee substitute agreed to 13104703D-S1 |
01/31/2013 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB721S1 |
02/01/2013 | Impact statement from DHCD (SB0721) |
02/01/2013 | Passed by for the day |
02/04/2013 | Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 20-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
This bill would never stand up to court review.
The ACLU of Virginia opposes this legislation because by requiring substance abuse screening of all Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare Program applicants, the government is treating potential recipients of public assistance as criminals, invading their privacy by conducting a search without a warrant, and denying benefits to those who may most need them.