Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that requires drug testing for certain welfare recipients.

Highlights:

• Requires individuals applying for TANF assistance to be tested for the illegal use of a “controlled substance” if the applicant has been convicted of a controlled substance offense or a substantially similar offense (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who is at least 18 years old and meets the following criteria to take a “substance abuse subtle screening inventory test” when he or she applies at a county office for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families program (TANF) beginning no later than July 1, 2015 (Sec. 6):
• The individual is eligible to receive TANF assistance; or
• The individual receives assistance on behalf of a child.

• Specifies that a county office is considered to have “reasonable suspicion” to believe that an individual is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance if any of the following conditions apply (Sec. 6):
• The individual has pending criminal charges related to controlled substances;
• The individual has been convicted of a controlled substance charge within the past year;
• The results of the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test indicate that the individual is “a risk” for the illegal use of a controlled substance; or
• The individual has previously failed a drug test required by this bill. 

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals who have previously tested positive for a drug test required by this bill (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals whom the county office have a “reasonable suspicion” to believe that the individual is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance as indicated by the results from the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test. (Sec. 6).

• Requires a county office to provide a list of drug abuse treatment programs to any individual who tests positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who tests positive on a drug test required by this bill to continue to receive TANF assistance if the individual provides evidence that he or she is participating in a drug abuse treatment program within 30 days of the initial positive drug test (Sec. 6). 

• Authorizes an individual ineligible for TANF assistance due to 1 or more failed drug tests to reapply after a 3 month ineligibility period, but he or she must test negative on a drug test before receiving assistance (Sec. 6). 

• Requires the Division of Family Resources to establish a statewide program that prohibits TANF assistance from being used for any food, food products, or beverage that is not permitted to be purchased under the SNAP Program (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that requires drug testing for certain welfare recipients.

Highlights:

• Requires individuals applying for TANF assistance to be tested for the illegal use of a “controlled substance” if the applicant has been convicted of a controlled substance offense or a substantially similar offense (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who is at least 18 years old and meets the following criteria to take a “substance abuse subtle screening inventory test” when he or she applies at a county office for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families program (TANF) beginning no later than July 1, 2015 (Sec. 6):
• The individual is eligible to receive TANF assistance; or
• The individual receives assistance on behalf of a child.

• Specifies that a county office is considered to have “reasonable suspicion” to believe that an individual is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance if any of the following conditions apply (Sec. 6):
• The individual has pending criminal charges related to controlled substances;
• The individual has been convicted of a controlled substance charge within the past year;
• The results of the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test indicate that the individual is “a risk” for the illegal use of a controlled substance; or
• The individual has previously failed a drug test required by this bill. 

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals who have previously tested positive for a drug test required by this bill (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals whom the county office have a “reasonable suspicion” to believe that the individual is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance as indicated by the results from the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test. (Sec. 6).

• Requires a county office to provide a list of drug abuse treatment programs to any individual who tests positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who tests positive on a drug test required by this bill to continue to receive TANF assistance if the individual provides evidence that he or she is participating in a drug abuse treatment program within 30 days of the initial positive drug test (Sec. 6). 

• Authorizes an individual ineligible for TANF assistance due to 1 or more failed drug tests to reapply after a 3 month ineligibility period, but he or she must test negative on a drug test before receiving assistance (Sec. 6). 

• Requires the Division of Family Resources to establish a statewide program that prohibits TANF assistance from being used for any food, food products, or beverage that is not permitted to be purchased under the SNAP Program (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires drug testing for Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families program (TANF) recipients.

Highlights:

• Requires individuals applying for TANF assistance to be tested for the illegal use of a “controlled substance” if the applicant has been convicted of a controlled substance offense or a substantially similar offense (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who is at least 18 years old and meets the following criteria to take a “substance abuse subtle screening inventory test” when he or she applies at a county office for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families program (TANF) beginning no later than July 1, 2015 (Sec. 6):
• The individual is eligible to receive TANF assistance; or
• The individual receives assistance on behalf of a child.

• Specifies that a county office is considered to have “reasonable suspicion” to believe that an individual is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance if any of the following conditions apply (Sec. 6):
• The individual has pending criminal charges related to controlled substances;
• The individual has been convicted of a controlled substance charge within the past year;
• The results of the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test indicate that the individual is “a risk” for the illegal use of a controlled substance; or
• The individual has previously failed a drug test required by this bill. 

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals who have previously tested positive for a drug test required by this bill (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals whom the county office have a “reasonable suspicion” to believe that the individual is engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance as indicated by the results from the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test. (Sec. 6).

• Requires a county office to provide a list of drug abuse treatment programs to any individual who tests positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who tests positive on a drug test required by this bill to continue to receive TANF assistance if the individual provides evidence that he or she is participating in a drug abuse treatment program within 30 days of the initial positive drug test (Sec. 6). 

• Authorizes an individual ineligible for TANF assistance due to 1 or more failed drug tests to reapply after a 3 month ineligibility period, but he or she must test negative on a drug test before receiving assistance (Sec. 6). 

• Requires the Division of Family Resources to establish a statewide program that prohibits TANF assistance from being used for any food, food products, or beverage that is not permitted to be purchased under the SNAP Program (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires drug testing for Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families program (TANF) recipients and establishes certain requirements for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases.

Highlights:

• Requires an individual who is at least 18 years old and meets the following criteria to take a “substance abuse subtle screening inventory test” when he or she applies at a county office for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for the Needy Families program (TANF) beginning no later than July 1, 2015 (Sec. 6):
• The individual is eligible to receive TANF assistance; or
• The individual receives assistance on behalf of a child.

• Requires the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals that a county has determined to have reasonable suspicion to believe the individual is at risk for illegal use of a controlled substance based on the individual’s results from the substance abuse subtle screen inventory test (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to an individual if the county office has knowledge that the individual has been formally charged with a controlled substance offense (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Office of the Secretary to administer a drug test to at least 50 percent of all individuals who have previously tested positive for a drug test required by this bill (Sec. 6).

• Requires a county office to provide a list of drug abuse treatment programs to any individual who tests positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual who tests positive for on a drug test required by this bill to continue to receive TANF assistance if the individual provides evidence that he or she is participating in a drug abuse treatment program (Sec. 6).

• Prohibits an individual from receiving TANF assistance for 3 months under the following circumstances (Sec. 6):
• The individual fails to provide evidence that he or she is participating in a drug abuse program within 30 days of the initial positive drug test; or 
• The individual is unable to test negative for 2 consecutive drug tests within a 4 month period of his or her initial positive drug test.

• Requires an individual who reapplies after a 3 month period of mandatory ineligibility to be permanently ineligible for TANF assistance if he or she tests positive during the reapplication process (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes an individual to receive TANF assistance on behalf of a child who is permanently ineligible to receive TANF assistance due to the provisions of this bill if the individual meets the following requirements (Sec. 6):
• The individual is ineligible to receive TANF assistance;
• The individual was not the parent or guardian when the child became ineligible to receive TANF assistance;
• The individual becomes the parent or guardian of the child who is ineligible for TANF assistance; and
• The individual tests negative on a drug test administered by the Office of the Secretary. 

• Specifies that if an individual tests positive for a drug test required by this bill, the Office of the Secretary must withhold the amount of the cost of any subsequent drug tests from an individual’s next TANF assistance payment (Sec. 6).

• Requires an individual to use Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits only for food, food products, and beverages that have sufficient nutritional value as determined by the Division of Family Resources (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text