Long: I'm proud to ask for drug tests for welfare recipients

In his weekly report, Rep. Thomas Long, R-Battlefield, notes he is pleased as punch about the progress of a bill that would require welfare recipients to undergo drug testing"

HB73 has been moved forward. This bill could require individuals under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to be drug tested should there be reasonable suspicion by the department of social services. Should the individual fail the drug test they would then be ineligible for that assistance for 1 year. The bill does not require that a person applying for TANF take a drug test to qualify for the program, only that once in the program should reasonable suspicion arise they will be required to submit to a drug test.


I was proud to stand in support of moving this bill forward. As almost any private citizen knows a drug test is an accepted and normal part of most job opportunities. In fact in my industry of transportation, random drug tests are required for CDL holders and other Department of Transportation sensitive functions. A refusal of a DOT random Test is presumed positive and CDL privileges are suspended immediately. The bill will now go to fiscal review before being brought back to the house for a final vote.