Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) signed legislation into law on Tuesday that requires anyone applying for temporary government assistance to pay for and undergo drug screening.
The Scott campaign website (which is now run by the Republican Party of Florida) posted a statement about the bill signing, calling it a “promise kept”:
It reads as follows:
Start –
Today, I signed HB 353, keeping my promise to require drug screening for welfare recipients.
The bill is designed to increase personal accountability and prevent Florida’s tax dollars from subsidizing drug addiction, while still providing for needy children.
Parents failing the required drug test may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of the children.
While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction.
This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars.
End –
Under this law families who will demand the help of state must go under the drug test.
If family fails the test the family will not be given assistance.
Under the new law, applicants for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who test positive for illegal drug use won't be eligible to receive benefits for one year or until they successfully complete a drug abuse program. Those who don't test positive will be reimbursed for the cost of the test.
Recipients of state assistance must pay for the drug tests themselves, and will be reimbursed by the state if they get a negative result.
Recipients who pass the test would be reimbursed the cost of which could run from $10 to $70.
Thus this will increase the business for Hospitals who will provide the tests.
Taxpayers will reimburse welfare applicants for negative drug tests.
Positive tests will carry an immediate ban on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for six months.
A second positive test will result in a three-year ban on state assistance.
Parents who fail drug tests can get benefits for their children by naming a state-approved designee to collect the money. That designee must also pass a drug test.
About 233,000 Floridians applied for cash assistance in 2009-10, including 114,000 families, according to DCF statistics. This month, 93,170 Floridians received cash assistance, a drop of 8.3 percent from a year ago.
Legally speaking and thinking this law seems to be unconstitutional.
Once the law is challenged it will be interesting to see what happens with this law.
In year 2003 a Michigan law that required welfare recipients to receive random drug testing was struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Because of this law corruption will increase.
The people who take the drugs will take such a drugs which will not be detected by drug tests.
Cocaine or heroin flush quickly through bloodstream but marijuana remains detectable for two weeks or longer.
The families who are get tested and are not taking drugs will feel like humiliated.
It is the duty of the state to help the poor people.
It is the duty of the state to stop the sellers of drugs from selling drugs to citizens of USA.
This clearly shows that Government can not stop drug makers thus they want to punish the innocent people who take drugs.
Who takes the drugs, one has to see what is the reason one is taking or turned to drugs.
What if someone lost job and he turned to drugs in depression?
Why not make a law which will monthly check the Governor and his family for drug abuse including all the elected politicians and if found taking drugs life time ban to contest elections?
Reality views by sm –
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Keyword Tag - Florida Drug Test Law Governor Rick Scott
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