Welfare Recipient Drug Test Bill On Governor's Desk

A bill that would require some welfare recipients pass a drug test as a condition of eligibility has reached the desk of Governor Mary Fallin.The state House of Representatives voted 86-to-6 in approval of House Bill 2388, which would allow the Department of Human Resources to drug screen adults who apply for the Temporary Assistance of Needy Families program if there is reasonable cause to believe the person applying may be using drugs.If the applicant refused to take the drug test or is determined to be using an illegal drug, they would be denied benefits. Applicants who undergo a substance abuse treatment program would be allowed to re-apply after six months.Child-only cases and cases for underage parents would be exempt from the drug screening. The bill also provides that when a parent has been found ineligible for benefits, an alternate person can be named to receive benefits."Oklahomans sympathize and want to help those who are truly needy, but hate the idea that their taxes would go to pay for illegal drug activity and addiction," says state Rep. Guy Liebmann. "An added benefit of the bill is that it encourages addicts to undergo substance abuse treatment in order to qualify for TANF assistance."State Representative John Bennett from Sallisaw says the misuse of welfare benefits was a top concern among his constituents."They overwhelmingly told me that they want the abuse of welfare benefits to buy drugs to stop. I worked with Representative Liebmann to push for this bill's passage. I am proud to say it has passed and I encourage the citizens of Oklahoma to contact the governor and encourage her to sign this bill into law."In a poll on KTUL.com{}earlier this year, we asked if welfare applicants should be required to take a drug test. More than 91-percent said yes.