http://www.clarionledger.com/article...-testing-bill-
A House committee approved a bill today that could require future state welfare recipients to undergo drug testing.
A divided House Public Health and Human Services Committee approved House Bill 49 lafter about an hour of debate with several members opposing the proposed legislation.
“We believe this is a good policy decision,” said House Public Health and Human Services Chairman Sam Mims. “Our goal is to help people.”
Under the proposal, new recipients would be required to fill out a survey and if information from the survey determines the person has a high probability of a drug problem, the individual would be required to have a drug test.
But Mims said the person wouldn’t be cut off the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and benefits from the program would pay for the drug test.
Medicaid would then pay for treatment. However, if the individual test positive again after undergoing treatment, he or she could be disqualified from the program.
“We are trying to help people; we are trying to make them a better mom or a better dad,” Mims said.
Mims said the proposed legislation is modeled after a law passed in Utah in 2012 that hasn’t faced a legal challenge. Mims said in Utah about 22 percent of the new recipients were required to get drug testing. He said 18,227 people applied for TANF benefits last in Mississippi and 485 were approved. He said if 22 percent of those would have been required to be tested in Mississippi, about 122 people would have been tested under the bill.
But several legislators, including state Rep. Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto; and state Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville; expressed concern about the bill.
Moak said he believes the legislation could open the state up to a possible claim of discrimination if some people receiving assistance are required to have drug testing and others aren’t required.
“You can’t treat one group separate,” Moak said.
Hines said he opposes drug use by anyone but it appears the bill is picking on people who need the assistance to survive.
NYS need this laws !