Michigan legislative action thread
Posted on 12/26/2014 7:46:20 PM PST by cripplecreek
LANSING, MI — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday signed a new law creating a one-year pilot program requiring the Department of Human Services to screen some welfare recipients and test those suspected of drug use.
The program, to be launched by DHS in three or more counties by October 2015, would apply to residents enrolled in or applying for the Family Independence Program.
A recipient who was suspected of drug use and failed an initial test would be referred to a treatment program. Failing a second test, or refusing to take one at all, would result in the termination of benefits.
“We want to remove the barriers that are keeping people from getting good jobs, supporting their families and living independently,” Snyder said in a statement announcing he had signed Senate Bill 275 and House Bill 4118.
“This pilot program is intended to help ensure recipients get the wrap-around services they need to overcome drug addiction and lead successful lives. We’ll then have opportunity to assess effectiveness and outcomes.”
The program won final approval this month in the Republican-led Legislature, where critics argued it would further stigmatize individuals who are already struggling and have not been shown to use drugs at any greater rate than other residents.
The potential fiscal impact of the pilot program is not immediately clear, but DHS will be required to report results and costs back to the Legislature. Unlike an earlier draft, the final version of the legislation did not include a direct appropriation.
Implementing a statewide program could cost between $700,000 and $2.4 million, according to the non-partisan Senate Fiscal Agency, which said any costs or savings for the pilot version would depend on the counties selected and the number of recipients who lose benefits.
Michigan implemented a mandatory welfare drug testing pilot program in 1999, but federal courts quickly struck it down as an unconstitutional and unreasonable form of search.
Suspicion-based programs have survived legal challenges in other states, however, and the new Michigan law requires DHS to use an “an empirically validated substance abuse screening tool” to flag suspected users before any testing.
Snyder, who is reviewing a number of bills sent to him in the final days of the lame-duck session, on Friday also signed a law reconfiguring some requirements for the state’s film incentive program and extending it until at least 2021.
The film credit legislation, sponsored by outgoing Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, includes revised rebate limits, requirements for in-state hires and other new personnel rules.
Simple: Free money, no drugs.
YESS!
You would think it would be easy.
oh yeah, the dumpRATS are already whining full tilt
They’re on twitter screeching for Obama to wave his magic wand and make it stop.
Eventually, but I don’t think anyone has standing until the counties have been picked and someone is ordered to be tested. Since this is a Pilot program the “statewide” application is not there and no one has had their rights violated until they have been ordered to be tested. I can see someone alleging that he/she may be ordered to be tested, but that would entail having to admit to drug use as their reason to not want to be tested.
At least that is the way i see it.
I guess some state legislatures stay in session all year long.
We don’t do that here in jawja.
wont go and here is why. it will only work on white people. any blacks or browns will get the ACLU to sue for racism and profiling, therefore the gutless wonders will cave and do away with it. wanna bet???
Yeah Michigan is one of only a couple states with a full time legislature. There is legislation to make them part time that will come up when they return after new years.
They spend so much time in Lansing that they just gotta legislate something.
The better idea is to refuse criminals any support, and any home that houses them.
They tried that in Chicago housing projects, didn’t work. Criminals, by their very nature, make their money outside the normal channels (welfare is just extra, when they can get it). No one could prove that any criminals were living in a welfare home.
I am 62 and recently retired. for the last 40 something years I have been illegal drug free due to random drug testing to keep gainfully employed.I may have to investigate what this so called wild wood flower is all about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyQi-1Z2tN8
This will only affect $ that the recipient gets from the State. FIP goes on their EBT card. It DOES NOT AFFECT FOOD STAMPS (I used to work in the child support area, so naturally I was alarmed that the children would go hungry). It DOES NOT AFFECT THEIR HEALTH CARE. All the other benefits the family gets will remain in effect (hey, look at that! “affect” and “effect” used in the same paragraph correctly!)
I don’t want the children to suffer for their parents’ bad behaviour. I DO want the parents to stop leaving lines of coke on the coffee table for their kids to OD on. I want the parents to stop selling the food they bought with their EBT card for drugs.
And in conclusion...a drug-free parent makes better decisions than a stoned one. Either the kids or the drugs, make your choice, then deal with the consequences. Drug testing is a consequence. Oh, and ya know how you know a parent is doing drugs? When they walk into your office and the whole office reeks of pot...and as a smoker, your smelling is off anyway, but if you can smell it...it’s gotta be bad. I hope they can tie CPS into this program, CPS is where all the drug use will be documented.
..............
Investigators close to Operation Clean Sweep say 48-year-old matriarch Pam Moorman headed a family crime network extending three generations. Moorman herself has at least 12 convictions and 51 arrests in 17 years.
Now police are investigating the Moorman's and other families' use of government housing subsidies - and allowing convicted felons, violent sex offenders, drug dealers and others to live with them. These are all violations of federal housing rules that could result in their evictions or loss of rent subsidies.
Major Davis is a cop killer
Love it ... thanks.
Their parents bad choices already affect the kids. Cut off the cash, they will sell the food stamps, free medical? take the kid in till the Dr is convinced (AKA tired of seeing them) the kid needs crazy checks..
I have seen how the system is played... They play it well. If they put half the effort in to a honest days work, they’d be millionaires.
It’s called “generational poverty” and yes, there are rules and mores to the game. Moms pass it on to their daughters, who pass it on to the kids. I say moms because in most cases, there is not a father in the home. And I suggest they pick a northern county as a pilot county...we got white welfare queens up here too!
There is a whole subculture to welfare recipients. They operate like a black market. Which explains why they can get drugs.
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