Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires 20 percent of recipients of cash assistance through the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program to submit to random drug testing prior to receiving benefits.

Highlights:

• Establishes a mandatory drug testing program for 20 percent of adult recipients of cash assistance through the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to adult recipients randomly for drug testing (Sec. 1).

• Requires recipients initially found to have been using an illegal substance to complete an education and rehabilitation program, and prohibits the Department of Children and Family Services from suspending a recipient's participation in the cash assistance program during the time the recipient is enrolled in the education and rehabilitation program (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to suspend a recipient's participation in the cash assistance program if the recipient is subsequently found to have been using an illegal substance after completing the education and rehabilitation program (Sec. 1).

• Requires all recipients of cash assistance to consent in writing to random drug testing as a condition of receiving cash assistance, and prohibits eligible individuals from receiving cash assistance without signing a written consent form (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that if program funds are sufficient to test more than 20 percent of recipients, the program must test additional recipients up to a percentage in proportion with the amount of funding available (Sec. 1).

• Requires the program to deposit $20,000 into the general fund of the State of Louisiana to offset state deficits prior to testing more than 20 percent of adult recipients (Sec. 1).

• This act is effective January 1, 2012 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires 20 percent of recipients of cash assistance through the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program to submit to random drug testing prior to receiving benefits.

Highlights:

• Establishes a mandatory drug testing program for 20 percent of adult recipients of cash assistance through the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to adult recipients randomly for drug testing (Sec. 1).

• Requires recipients initially found to have been using an illegal substance to complete an education and rehabilitation program, and prohibits the Department of Children and Family Services from suspending a recipient's participation in the cash assistance program during the time the recipient is enrolled in the education and rehabilitation program (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the Department of Children and Family Services to suspend a recipient's participation in the cash assistance program if the recipient is subsequently found to have been using an illegal substance after completing the education and rehabilitation program (Sec. 1).

• Requires all recipients of cash assistance to consent in writing to random drug testing as a condition of receiving cash assistance, and prohibits eligible individuals from receiving cash assistance without signing a written consent form (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that if program funds are sufficient to test more than 20 percent of recipients, the program must test additional recipients up to a percentage in proportion with the amount of funding available (Sec. 1).

• Requires the program to deposit $20,000 into the general fund of the State of Louisiana to offset state deficits prior to testing more than 20 percent of adult recipients (Sec. 1).

• This act is effective January 1, 2012 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text