The bill attempts to get around constitutional problems with other mandatory drug testing bills by limiting drug testing to those whom case workers have identified as creating "a reasonable suspicion" they are using drugs. Persons who are then drug tested and test positive would have an administrative hearing and after that hearing, could be declared ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits for three years. Dependent children of people thrown off the rolls would not lose their benefits; instead, they would be provided through a payee for the children.
The bill also provides that the Department of Mental Health would refer people who test positive to drug treatment, although it doesn't specify who would pay for it. Nor does the bill have any provision for returning someone to the rolls after successfully completing treatment.
The vote came despite a fiscal impact analysis that found the measure would cost the state more than $ 2.5 million in 2011 and around $ 3.5 million in 2012 and 2013. While the state would save some money from paying out fewer benefits, those savings would be swamped by the costs of drug testing, hearings for people who appealed the loss of benefits, and the cost of drug treatment.
Missouri is one of a handful of states where similar bills are moving this year. Similar bills have been filed or pre-filed in Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/619/missouri_senate_committee_passes_welfare_drug_test_bill
Answer by Paul Grass™
Yes I do and I lobbied for it
Answer by Joel W
Heavens yes. I would have lobbied for it if I could have and my congrats to those who did lobby for it.
Answer by jammersavage123
I'm all for it and hope that every state adopts this initiative! If people are going to stay on the government dole, then they need to be tested to continue to leaching from the government. I take part in drug tests each year as well as randoms for my job, I don't care at all, there's nothing to find. But if I get random testing for a job, why not have those who's job it is to take from the taxpayers be tested as well?
Answer by Comrade Obama
They should test them all before they receive anything,and randomly the entire time they are on Public Asistance.
Funny how it's treated as a violation of privacy for Welfare Leeches,but it's perfectly okay for those working to fund the Welfare.
In the end,I actually oppose the Drug Laws,and think that Drug Tests are a violation of privacy.BUT if you're living off of the Taxpayers,then I see it differently.
Heil 0bama!!
Orignal From: Missouri Senate Committee Passes Bill to Drug Test Welfare Recipients. Do you agree with it?
No comments:
Post a Comment