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Drug testing as condition for public assistance

This topic contains 4 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by  Sharon Laffs 10 years, 1 month ago.

  • Drug testing as condition for public assistance

    Started by Nathan Curry

    I suggest that drug testing should be included as a component of determining eligibility for all public assistance programs in Texas. It is my understanding that similar legislation has been enacted and implemented in other states. With much of the labor force required to submit to such testing as a condition of employment, it would seem common sense that it should also be a condition for receiving assistance/benefits that are funded by the taxpayer.

    4
    Replies

    Hi Mr. Curry –

    As you know, several states have enacted such legislation. This past legislative session, Texas attempted to as well. http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/human-services/drug-testing-and-public-assistance.aspx

    Which benefits would you extend this to, and how would you propose funding?

    Thank you for your input,

    MC Lambeth
    Policy Analyst, Texans for Greg Abbott

    As I previously stated, I think it would benefit our society if drug-testing were a component for determining eligibility for all public assistance. Funding could partially be obtained from probation fees collected from persons convicted of drug offenses. The reduced outlay of benefits would also offset the cost of implementation.

    I agree totally with drug testing for assistance, because if you can afford drugs you can afford bills food etc.

    I want to agree with drug testing for both assistance, as it done already to those who work at some locations. However, I personally have seen this get out of hand and be used to threaten people for using legal substances on their own time. Therefore, I would want to see specifics on which drugs were being tested for and in which specific circumstances. I believe that a county in FL did do this last year, but the costs were more expensive than the number who were caught. I think we need to see specifics to know whether this is more about punitive control of a subset of the population or about cost effectiveness of our assistance programs. I have noted that the government does not give up power once obtained, nor approach the use of the power with the common sense the average citizen does to survive. Until there is more concrete information, I cannot condone yet another “feel good” plan that is costly, ineffective, inefficient, and over steps the original purpose it may have been intended to help mitigate.

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