Proposed drug testing legislation for welfare recipients will mostly likely become law in Tennessee. Two identical bills are on the agenda—one bill passed the House Finance Sub-committee on Monday and the second bill should be on the Senate floor today or tomorrow.
What is the legislation all about?
In simple terms, it boils down to this: if you want to receive welfare benefits in Tennessee you will have to do what the State asks of you. One thing they will ask is that welfare recipients be screened before they get any financial benefits. If the screening suggests that the person has done drugs, or potentially could use drugs, the next step is a drug test.
What happens if the person fails the drug test?
That person wouldn't be able to get welfare benefits until they go to a treatment center to get clean. Six months after leaving the facility they can apply for benefits.
The proposed drug testing legislation most likely will get very mixed reviews. One question is who is going to pay for the drug treatment? Your garden variety drug addict can't afford a fancy rehab center. Dr. Phil certainly isn't going to show up on the doorsteps of all the Tennessee drug users and provide free help. How much is this going to cost the citizens of the Volunteer State in the long run? Will weeding out drug addicts from the welfare rolls be a benefit in savings or not?
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 9
Ever consider that people who otherwise would have applied for and received benefits either didn't apply or cleaned up before the test?
I'm not sure that the testing applied only to new applicants, but regardless, I'm not sure where you're going with this. Seems to me that drug testing for welfare recipients is an example of nanny state policies that a lot of people are up in arms about. Doesn't seem to me that punishment is a particularly effective way of dealing with a public health problem like addiction. One obvious side effect is that people who might otherwise use welfare benefits to buy dope will commit more crimes or become hedge fund managers in order to get the money they need.
I can see a testing if said person (not noted above) stays on the system for over a year and doesn't take advandage of the schooling provided for them (usually free) or at least look for a job tht would give them the same pay to keep the above ground.