Posted on 08/29/2013 7:40:00 AM PDT by Deadeye Division
A central Ohio lawmaker is renewing efforts to require adults seeking welfare to pass a drug test.
Sen. Tim Schaffer plans to introduce legislation today that would establish a drug-testing pilot program for Ohio Works First applicants.
“It is time that we recognize that many families are trying to survive in drug-induced poverty, and we have an obligation to make sure taxpayer money is not being used to support drug dealers,” Schaffer said. “We can no longer turn a blind eye to this problem.”
Crawford County has volunteered to participate in the proposed three-county pilot program, and two others will be chosen.
The proposal comes as Ohio’s public welfare rolls are at their lowest levels in decades. As of June, slightly fewer than 25,000 adults received cash assistance. Children, who make up the bulk of recipients, about 107,000, would be exempt from drug testing under Schaffer’s proposal.
Since 2011, eight states have passed laws requiring drug testing or screening for public-assistance applicants, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ohio would be the 30th state this year to introduce drug testing or screening for welfare clients.
The increased interest in such laws follows legal challenges to drug-testing requirements in Michigan and Florida.
Schaffer, R-Lancaster, said he hopes to avoid similar lawsuits by requiring applicants to be tested only if they indicate on a questionnaire that they have used drugs in the past six months. Michigan’s drug-testing law, he said, was found unconstitutional because it required all applicants to undergo screenings regardless of whether there was reason to believe they were using illegal drugs.
“That screening is an integral component needed to avoid a legal challenge. It gets around the Fourth Amendment (protection against) unreasonable search. A state can’t compel all applicants as a group to take a drug test; you have to establish cause,” Schaffer said.
Critics say drug testing unfairly stigmatizes poor people and wastes tax dollars as incident rates in other states have been relatively low. The Associated Press recently reported that Utah spent $25,000 to screen applicants and only 12 tested positive. In Florida, 108 tested positive of more than 4,000 who submitted to drug testing.
Schaffer said the number of welfare applicants using drugs is likely higher because many don’t return to be tested.
Under his proposal, applicants for Ohio’s welfare program who say they have used drugs in the past six months would have to undergo a drug test. If the test is positive for drug use, the applicant would be banned from receiving welfare benefits for at least six months and referred to drug treatment. The bill sets aside $100,000 for residential treatment for the most-serious abusers. Schaffer said most applicants would qualify for Medicaid, which covers community-based services.
Applicants who indicate they have not used drugs would not be tested.
Schaffer stressed that the children or other dependents of those disqualified for assistance would not lose their benefits. “The goals of this bill are threefold: get help to the kids as the Ohio taxpayer intended, get treatment to the drug abuser and protect the taxpayer.”
ccandisky@dispatch.com
@cccandisky
I like. Same concept should apply to SNAP, Obamaphones, etc.
Cue the “That’s Racist” boy.
Cause .... Well, you know.
I’m sure we will be hearing from Holder any minute, ordering us to stop this racist testing.
This is the most cockamamie reasoning I have ever seen. If somebody doesn't want to take a drug test, all they have to do is not apply for welfare.
My understanding is that there are plenty of jobs in the public and private sector that require drug tests. How is it possible that people getting free money from taxpayers for doing nothing don't have to take drug tests?
How is this ethical, not to mention intelligent, social policy?
“unfairly stigmatizes poor people”
True, it forces the ones who work to subsidize wealthier people’s drug habits. Drug test all of them.
Is the proposed legislation called the “Urine the Money” bill?
Ahh denounce meself...
Typical feel-good "LOOKIT ME I'M DOING SOMETHING!" preening.
Good idea.
Regular drug tests should be required for everyone in the federal government too.
Start with the Bg Choomer in the White House, his staff, Congress, the Senate, and their staffs.
Then move on to all the bureaucrats, the Justice Dept., federal courts and the millions of parasitic government employees spread all over the country sucking the life from the nation.
Children SHOULD NOT be exempted from testing. What age determines a child? A 14-16 yo person that is getting part of those benefits and is doing drugs???? No, Children under age of 10 yo, OK. Any overage of 10-12 should also be tested. If kids are taken drugs, cut the benefits or whatever to induce parents to take care of business. It’s a New World out there. Kids are no longer kids. You have 20 yo’s still in HS! Whats up with that??? Look outside the box and you will find fleas all over the place.
Ohio Ping
BS, the ONLY way this is true is because just knowing they were going to be tested filtered out the drug users in advance.
Schaffer said the number of welfare applicants using drugs is likely higher because many don’t return to be tested
That makes more sense.
Applicants who indicate they have not used drugs would not be tested.
This makes NO sense. Gee, I wonder if they will lie? Duh. You can be drug tested for a job but not for welfare? You are volunteering for both, it's not being demanded you take the job or welfare. This country is in a free fall.
Drug users are so honest, this shouldn't be a problem. /sarc/
The same tact is taken when is comes to citizenship. If they say they are citizens, they aren't checked.
Any links or examples you can point to?
Do you have any sources to support that statement? I'm not saying it couldn't be true, but if it is, I find it very counter-intuitive.
If nothing else, it would send the message that Welfare isn't a "right," and that there is SOME level of responsibility required to qualify for it.
Most FReepers will miss this reality check.
“Under his proposal, applicants for Ohio’s welfare program who say they have used drugs in the past six months would have to undergo a drug test.”
This makes the whole effort stoopid and useless!
That’ll go over even worse than requiring voter ID.
Florida's welfare drug tests cost more money than state saves, data shows
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