New Alabama law would require residents to pass drug tests to get food stamps

The Hill ^ | March 7, 2019

[SMGFan]

A new law proposed in Alabama would require residents to pass a drug test in order to receive food stamps.

Under the state’s existing laws, Alabama residents are not legally required to be tested for illegal substances in order to apply for or receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a local NBC station.

But, if H.B. 3, which was introduced earlier this week, is passed, an applicant for such benefits would be required to be tested for substance abuse if “there is reasonable suspicion that the person uses or is under the influence of a drug,” the bill states.

[SMGFan]

What a great idea.

[fhayek]

Geez. If you can afford drugs, they you certainly can afford food. This should have been part of the plan from the start.

[moovova]

Raciss, sexist, homophobic, anti-religion-of-peace-ist...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Obama judge issuing injunction in 3.....2.....1....

[Vigilanteman]

You just know some circus court will rule it unconstitutional because it is COMMON SENSE.

How long do you think the invasion of illegal aliens would last if they were not allowed to get public benefits?

[RedStateRocker]

I wonder what the cost of the tests will be versus how many people fail and get kicked off.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

Well, here’s one guaranteed to break the taxpayers hearts/NOT!

[pas]

Are they going to provide free tutoring. It is not fair since the test is most likely racist. /s

[socalgop]

Seems like the wrong approach - if someone has a substance abuse problem that they can’t control even though it costs them their food, withholding food isn’t going to change their behavior. Better to force them into a treatment program as a condition of maintaining food stamps. Otherwise you just incentivize people to take drugs that aren’t on the test panel or to find other, illegal means of feeding themselves.

[pepsionice]

I don’t see this going far. First, it’d mean someone has to show up and do a urine-sample, and the food stamp management would raise a big fuss about handling urine.

Second, if this is like the Air Force testing program....they can only test a couple of things, without this costing a good bit. Maybe they could test for marijuana, crack and cocaine. It’d surprise me if they came up and said it’d be for 16 different substances.

Third, you’d just trigger a number of fraudulent folks showing up to ID themselves as X, and be the clean drug tester.

Personally, I wouldn’t mean expanding this and including all law enforcement officers, and school bus drivers.

[Dandy]

Lets just do away with the program instead of prying into peoples lives.

[Sans-Culotte]

D.O.A.

[tet68]

Personally, I wouldn’t mean expanding this and including all law enforcement officers, and school bus drivers.

The same could be said for anyone running for, or elected
to public office.

Assuming you meant “mind” instead of mean.

[Truthoverpower]

Savage brought this up years ago

[Truthoverpower]

Savages also said for years that all members of the House and Senate should also be drug tested on a regular basis

I think that’s a terrific idea

[ClearBlueSky]

BRAVO!!!!!

Now get ready for the 'you're starving helpless addicts and forcing them to steal to eat and feed their children.'
What should be done is mandatory birth control for assistance, after ONE child. That would end generational welfare and fatherless children.

[ClearBlueSky]

BRAVO!!!!!

Now get ready for the 'you're starving helpless addicts and forcing them to steal to eat and feed their children.'
What should be done is mandatory birth control for assistance, after ONE child. That would end generational welfare and fatherless children.

[deport]

It's a problem much like DWI. You lose your license to drive or lose
your SNAP benefits.

.........
If a person tests positive more than once for a drug without a valid
prescription, he or she would be ineligible to receive SNAP benefits.

Also, should the parent of dependent children test positive for drugs,
the parent “may designate a third party to receive the benefits for the
benefit of the dependent child,” according to the bill.

[GnuThere]

All of them would fail it for MJ.
Which would be great, saves taxpayer dollars. But that can’t be allowed!

[Buckeye McFrog]

First, it’d mean someone has to show up and do a urine-sample, and the food stamp management would raise a big fuss about handling urine.

Nobody who drug tests ACTUALLY handles the urine. There are plenty of laboratories out there who would be happy to have this business for thirty or forty bucks a pop.