If enacted, 14,000 Kansans will have to demonstrate they're drug-free to get financial help.
House passes drug screening bill for recipients of aidThe House passed legislation today that will require recipients of certain types of financial assistance to submit to random drug testing.
The bill passed on a vote of 99-26.
House Bill 2275 will apply to approximately 14,000 Kansans who receive financial aid through the Child Care Assistance Programs, Temporary Assistance to Families and General Assistance.
Under the bill, in order to continue receiving public assistance, recipients will need to participate in a random drug screening program which would screen one-third of these recipients each year.
If a recipient of assistance tests positive for using an illegal substance they could be required to complete an educational or treatment program, and then would be subject to additional screenings. In the event of a positive test, if a person did not complete a treatment program or if the person failed subsequent drug tests, they would no longer be able to collect the assistance.
If the legislation and the drug screening is implemented it would be expected to cost about $800,000 a year.
That's $800,000 I don't mind spending. Of course, as Kenzi pointed out, it shouldn't be necessary, because public assistance shouldn't be the government's role in the first place, but you take what you can get. Nice catch for the kid, tho!
Reminds me of my dad who took back his dime when the panhandler broke his promise and tried to spend the money on his addiction.
ReplyDeleteCall it what you will (I call it tough love) but at some point, someone must draw a line and say you may not cross.
No wonder I'm such a hardass...it's genetic!
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