Committee OKs Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients

[rockin'robin]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Welfare recipients would pay for their own drug testing and come up clean before before receiving financial assistance under a bill that passed a House committee on Thursday.

Backers said the requirement would send a tough but needed message to substance abusers who use taxpayer money to feed their addiction instead of their families.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 to approve HB 353, that would deny benefits to recipients of temporary financial assistance for at least one year if they fail a drug test. A second failed test would kick them off the assistance rolls for three years.

Food stamp eligibility would not be affected.

The bill are expected to pass both houses despite Democratic and even some Republican opposition. Some lawmakers question whether the bill is constitutional.

Committee OKs Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville

 

[Babyblue]

I have mixed feelings about this. The kids at the end are the ones that ends up starving. If they are going to do that they need to go ahead and get the caseworkers involved and remove the children from their homes so they can have meals to eat. Case workers in Florida are already overworked and underpaid, and surely will be cut back more under Rick Scott. They need to come up with another program for needy families such as soup kitchens or places for needy familes to goto to eat healthy meals. Oh wait!! Rick Scott also cut back on soup kitchens!!

 

[Babyblue]

Governor Rick Scott Wants to Drug Test Welfare Recipients | firstcoastnews.com


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Gov. Rick Scott wants to test welfare recipients for illegal drugs before getting the benefits, and he wants them to pay for it themselves. Scott said testing would keep the assistance program from being abused.

Rosanna Alexander's family is one the 58,000 families getting assistance in the state. She was shocked to hear a drug test could be coming, but is more concerned about the potential cost.

There is no official word on how much the test would cost. Estimates range from $35 to $90. Alexander said she uses any extra money for for diapers for 2-year-old child Simone or an afterschool program for 8-year-old Ryian.

"I don't think it's fair that when you're already in a difficult situation to make it worse," said Alexander.

"I can't pay for a drug test. If they want it done, they better fork out the money for it," said DeAnn Jacobs, who was at the Southside assistance office on Thursday afternoon.

The bill says if the adult tests positive for a controlled substance, he or she would be ineligible for a year. It also says that in a two-parent household, both parents would need to be tested before getting public assistance.

Scott defended the bill.

"No, I think the positive is it that measurement always helps us improve and so knowing that you're going to be drug tested, hopefully that will give you another incentive to not use drugs," said Scott.

However controversial, Alexander and Jacobs are willing to take it for the sake of their families.

"I don't see the problem with the actual drug test. If you're willing to get help from your family, you do whatever it takes," said Alexander.

Gov. Scott wants the bill in effect by July 1. The bill passed a house budget committee on Thursday, but both the house and the senate still need to vote.

 

[rockin'robin]

I have mixed feelings about this. The kids at the end are the ones that ends up starving. If they are going to do that they need to go ahead and get the caseworkers involved and remove the children from their homes so they can have meals to eat. Case workers in Florida are already overworked and underpaid, and surely will be cut back more under Rick Scott. They need to come up with another program for needy families such as soup kitchens or places for needy familes to goto to eat healthy meals. Oh wait!! Rick Scott also cut back on soup kitchens!!

Much agree with you....but some people even sell their Food Stamps to buy drugs. All in all, something has to be done. I did read where the Homeless Shelter here in Jax was cutting back feeding the homeless from 3 times a day to once a day...for several months, to save money....even some people that are not on Welfare or Food Stamps are not able to eat 3 times a day!...so these homeless people were eating 3 times a day and are now "complaining"....

I do feel it's a gross injustice for Welfare receipients to use the $$ for drugs...it's like laughing at us hard working people! Who at times can only eat 1 or 2 times a day...while they eat 3 !!...and use the $$ for drugs.

 

[Babyblue]

I agree.. and with you, and I have see people in grocery store parking lots trying to sell their foodstamps for cash.

I also disagree that people should pay for their own drug test if they come up negative. It is not fair to the ones that are honestly struggling to make ends meet.

 

[shel90]

What if they pay for the drug test and those whose tests come up negative get reinbursed?

 

[netrox]

Much agree with you....but some people even sell their Food Stamps to buy drugs. All in all, something has to be done. I did read where the Homeless Shelter here in Jax was cutting back feeding the homeless from 3 times a day to once a day...for several months, to save money....even some people that are not on Welfare or Food Stamps are not able to eat 3 times a day!...so these homeless people were eating 3 times a day and are now "complaining"....

I do feel it's a gross injustice for Welfare receipients to use the $$ for drugs...it's like laughing at us hard working people! Who at times can only eat 1 or 2 times a day...while they eat 3 !!...and use the $$ for drugs.

you don't know about them. I would feed them regardless of their residence. What if they are out of food and no longer can afford food? Just because they got home doesn't mean they have money or food.

It's a myth that addicts live well on welfare. No one lives well on welfare. None.

I oppose having to force them to pay for drug tests - I mean, seriously, why the hell are they applying for welfare? They got NO MONEY!!!! How the hell are they able to even afford drug testing?!?!

 

[saywhatkid]

Between this and the voter ID thing, not much money left for food. BTW, would the drug testing be conducted at a state-run facility, or would they use private sector for-profit labs?

 

[rockin'robin]

What if they pay for the drug test and those whose tests come up negative get reinbursed?

Sounds fair..or perhaps "free" drug testing and those who come back "negative" have to pay for it, plus they lose their checks and food stamps. Possibly would save the states money.....

Then again, there are many ways to beat the drug testing, especially if it's a urine test, and people know how to take advantage of that. The hair focile test would be the best, but more expensive?

I do know of a lady that was using drugs, and got state benefits, over $3,000 a month. Someone did call DCF on her...they went to her house and told her to take a urine test...she went down the hall to the bathroom (without the DCF worker), called her son into the bathroom, and he did the urine test for her!...Of course, she passed that one....She's got 4 kids and expecting another one, does not work and is not married and does not know who the father(s) of her children are.....She's beat the system time and time again!

 

[saywhatkid]

I do know of a lady that was using drugs, and got state benefits, over $3,000 a month. Someone did call DCF on her...they went to her house and told her to take a urine test...she went down the hall to the bathroom (without the DCF worker), called her son into the bathroom, and he did the urine test for her!...Of course, she passed that one....She's got 4 kids and expecting another one, does not work and is not married and does not know who the father(s) of her children are.....She's beat the system time and time again!

Pretty hard to find a job when your feet are in the air all the time. BTW, how do you know this is true? Is this one of those neighborhood "chatting over the backyard fence" rumors? Any state worker that demands a drug test is going to stand right outside that door. They are not gonna let Momma call Johnny into the bathroom while she is giving a sample. Sorry, I have a hard time with this one.

 

[rockin'robin]

Between this and the voter ID thing, not much money left for food. BTW, would the drug testing be conducted at a state-run facility, or would they use private sector for-profit labs?

What about "random" drug testing?....I do know that some DCF workers, go to their homes and ask them to take a test right there....They do this whenever there are multiple "complaints", and there are children in the home. If they refuse to take the "random" testing...then their checks/food stamps should be cut off until they agree.

 

[rockin'robin]

Pretty hard to find a job when your feet are in the air all the time. BTW, how do you know this is true? Is this one of those neighborhood "chatting over the backyard fence" rumors? Any state worker that demands a drug test is going to stand right outside that door. They are not gonna let Momma call Johnny into the bathroom while she is giving a sample. Sorry, I have a hard time with this one.

It's a fact!...I do know the lady. She has been on drugs for a very long time....the DCF worker did not follow her to the bathroom. Just gave her the bottle and "asked" her to take the test....The DCF worker went to her home after being called about her drug abuse....and this happened about 3 months ago.

 

[saywhatkid]

What about "random" drug testing?....I do know that some DCF workers, go to their homes and ask them to take a test right there....They do this whenever there are multiple "complaints", and there are children in the home. If they refuse to take the "random" testing...then their checks/food stamps should be cut off until they agree.

Then they need to address the methods of testing. If this mother had DCF called to her home because of suspected drug abuse, how in the world does the DCF worker allow the mother to call her son into the bathroom? Why even bother to test her?

When I submit samples for employment, I am not suspected of use. They are simply making sure. This woman was suspected. How can they do this unless she pays the DCF worker under the table for the option of using her son's sample?

 

[rockin'robin]

Then they need to address the methods of testing. If this mother had DCF called to her home because of suspected drug abuse, how in the world does the DCF worker allow the mother to call her son into the bathroom? Why even bother to test her?

When I submit samples for employment, I am not suspected of use. They are simply making sure. This woman was suspected. How can they do this unless she pays the DCF worker under the table for the option of using her son's sample?

Seems the DCF worker did not know the job very well!...They were all outside when the DCF worker pulled up, except for a 15 yr. old in the bedroom...The DCF asked her to take a drug test (outside of the house, when she was handed the bottle)...she took it, went into the house, down the hall...and her 15 yr. old son went into the bathroom with her...the DCF worker DID NOT follow them!....or stand beside the door....the Lady was on drugs at that time!...She simply returned the bottle to the DCF worker with her son's urine in it...

There are all kinds of ways to beat the urine test...but I believe the "hair focile" test cannot be beat, but is more expensive.

 

[Reba]

Between this and the voter ID thing, not much money left for food. BTW, would the drug testing be conducted at a state-run facility, or would they use private sector for-profit labs?

In SC, the ID cards for voters will be free to them. No cost.

Even when they had to pay for them, the cards cost $5 each.

 

[Reba]

Sounds fair..or perhaps "free" drug testing and those who come back "negative" have to pay for it, plus they lose their checks and food stamps. Possibly would save the states money.....

Do you mean "positive?"

I do know of a lady that was using drugs, and got state benefits, over $3,000 a month. Someone did call DCF on her...they went to her house and told her to take a urine test...she went down the hall to the bathroom (without the DCF worker), called her son into the bathroom, and he did the urine test for her!...Of course, she passed that one....She's got 4 kids and expecting another one, does not work and is not married and does not know who the father(s) of her children are.....She's beat the system time and time again!

Wow, they sure don't know how to administer a urine test properly.

When we did it in the Navy, the person being tested had to be observed for positive flow. That meant, someone watched the person pee into the cup.
Then, there was a constant chain of custody with the container sealed and signed. The tester even noted the color and temperature.

If a result came back positive, the person was tested again to verify that it wasn't a testing mistake.

Testing was done randomly, without prior warning. When testing was announced, no one could leave the building until they had their turn.

 

[Dixie]

You can somewhat 'beat' a hair follicle test but it really comes down to timing, what substance, how heavy of a user you are, and how often you get your hair cut. You also have to keep in mind that those special shampoos that claim to wast the drugs out of your hair only do more harm than good. It will show up as a 'masking' substance which can land you in worse trouble. You have to remember the substance is not on your hair it is in your hair.

 

[saywhatkid]

Do you mean "positive?"
I thought the same thing.

Wow, they sure don't know how to administer a urine test properly.
Amen

When we did it in the Navy, the person being tested had to be observed for positive flow. That meant, someone watched the person pee into the cup.
Then, there was a constant chain of custody with the container sealed and signed. The tester even noted the color and temperature.
This would make it difficult for me, since I am "pee-shy" when someone watches me. All the testing I have done, I had to go into an empty toilet room and submit a sample while the tester waited right outside the door.

If a result came back positive, the person was tested again to verify that it wasn't a testing mistake.
Interesting. Most places I worked would never allow a second test. They would retest the first sample.

Testing was done randomly, without prior warning. When testing was announced, no one could leave the building until they had their turn.

So random would be the entire squad/platoon? When I was under random testing rules for FAA, they would call the company I worked for and give them 5 names to be tested at once. Some people were never tested, and some were tested a few times. Luck of the draw.

 

[saywhatkid]

There are all kinds of ways to beat the urine test...but I believe the "hair focile" test cannot be beat, but is more expensive.

Yes, but hair follicle test does not require a medical staff to collect a sample. If anyone can beat the drug test like the woman described, why bother having them?

 

[Beowulf]

I smell a class-action lawsuit over this. It would make a lawyer famous, so I am sure there will be one.