Signed by Governor Rick Snyder

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires drug testing for certain welfare recipients.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a “suspicion-based” substance abuse screening and testing pilot program for applicants and recipients of the Family Independence Program in at least 3 counties (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department to screen applicants initially and recipients annually for suspicion of substance abuse with an “empirically validated substance abuse screening tool” (Sec. 1).

• Requires an applicant or recipient to take a substance abuse test if the screening indicates a “reasonable suspicion” of controlled substance use (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an applicant or recipient who refuses to take the test is ineligible for Family Independence Program Assistance for 6 months, at which time the applicant/recipient can reapply for assistance after testing negative for controlled substance use (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department to pay the cost of administering the substance abuse test if the applicant or recipient tests negative for the use of a controlled substance (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and adopt additional amendments to a bill that requires drug testing for certain welfare recipients.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a “suspicion-based” substance abuse screening and testing pilot program for applicants and recipients of the Family Independence Program in at least 3 counties (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department to screen applicants initially and recipients annually for suspicion of substance abuse with an “empirically validated substance abuse screening tool” (Sec. 1).

• Requires an applicant or recipient to take a substance abuse test if the screening indicates a “reasonable suspicion” of controlled substance use (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an applicant or recipient who refuses to take the test is ineligible for Family Independence Program Assistance for 6 months, at which time the applicant/recipient can reapply for assistance after testing negative for controlled substance use (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department to pay the cost of administering the substance abuse test if the applicant or recipient tests negative for the use of a controlled substance (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires drug screenings and testing for applicants and recipients of cash assistance benefits.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a “suspicion-based” drug screening and testing program for applicants and benefit recipients of the Family Independence Program (Sec. 57Y).

• Requires the department to screen an initial applicant or renewing recipient of the Family Independence Program for drug use with an “empirically validated substance abuse screening tool” (Sec. 57Y).

• Requires an applicant or recipient to take a drug test if the screening tool indicates a “reasonable suspicion” that the individual has illegally used a controlled substance (Sec. 57Y).

• Specifies that an individual who refuses to take a drug test is ineligible for the Family Independence Program for 6 months, at which time they can reapply, subject to another drug test (Sec. 57Y).

• Specifies that an applicant or recipient who tests positive for drug use can proceed in one of the following ways (Sec. 57Y):
• For a first positive test, the individual is required to participate in a treatment program offered by a regional substance abuse coordinating agency in order to continue receiving program benefits; and
• For a second positive test, the individual will be ineligible for program benefits, but is authorized to reapply if he or she tests negative for drug use at that time.

• Requires the cost of administering a drug test to be deducted from a program recipient’s first benefit payment if he or she tested positive (Sec. 57Y).

• Requires the department to pilot the program in 3 or more counties from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 (Sec. 57Y).

• Requires the department to submit a report on the pilot program to the legislature by April 30, 2015 (Sec. 57Y).

Full Bill Text