12/13/13 - The State Senate has approved a bill introduced by State Senator Joe Hune to drug test certain recipients of state assistance. The legislation passed Thursday would require recipients or applicants of cash assistance to be drug tested if there is reasonable suspicion of substance abuse. Huneâs measure, Senate Bill 275, would require public assistance applicants to submit to a drug test if their caseworker has a reasonable suspicion they may be abusing drugs. This bill is tied with Representative Jeff Farringtonâs House Bill 4118, both of which passed out of committee earlier this summer. Hune called it a âcommonsense policy that is about accountability.â Opponents of such testing say it unfairly taints those who are economically vulnerable, and that people receiving public assistance are no more likely to use drugs than anyone else. Hune says that taxpayers should not have to fund drug habits and that they are owed accountability with their tax dollars. The Senate Fiscal Agency has estimated a pilot drug testing program would cost approximately $600,000 with a $3.4 million price tag once implemented statewide. It says potential savings would range from $370,000 to $3.7 million. The bill now moves to the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee for further consideration. (JK)
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