Is this a good idea or a bad idea, is it an invasion of privacy or the right thing to do?

Florida to test all welfare recipients for drugs

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/31/us-florida-welfare-drugs-idUSTRE74U6W320110531
By Michael Peltier

TALLAHASSEE, Florida | Tue May 31, 2011 6:06pm EDT

(Reuters) - Florida will begin testing welfare recipients for illicit drug use under a new law signed by Governor Rick Scott on Tuesday.

The measure makes Florida the only state to test all recipients of the federal program known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, according a Washington-based public policy group that says other states have chosen less obtrusive ways to monitor drug use.

The new law, a version of which was struck down by a federal court in Michigan in 2003, requires recipients to pay for the tests before qualifying for benefits and periodically after they receive them.

The law was one of Scott's campaign promises. Supporters say it will help ensure that taxpayer money is used to get families on their feet and not to fuel drug habits at state expense.

"While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Scott said in a statement released after he signed the bill during a visit to Panama City.

"This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars."

Beginning July 1, recipients who test positive for drugs would be denied benefits for a year. A second failed test would result in a three-year ban.

In two-parent households, both adults would be tested. Benefits to children could be awarded to a third-party recipient, who must also pass a drug screen.

The law will not affect the federal food stamp program.

Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Florida Legal Services, said they will decide in coming weeks if they plan to file suit against the law on the grounds that blanket drug tests are unconstitutional.

Federal law allows states to screen for drug use under the TANF program, which provides a maximum $300 a month cash assistance to needy families. The program, which replaced traditional welfare in the mid 1990s, has a 48-month lifetime cap on benefits.

Other states have studied the issue and decided testing all recipients was not cost effective, the Washington-based Center for Legal and Social Policy said in a study released in January.

Most states have drug assessment programs that do not include urine or blood tests. Some require drug tests from recipients who have been convicted of felony drug crimes.

During debate about the law, critics pointed to a pilot testing program in Florida that was shut down in 2001 after it showed no significant difference in drug use between welfare recipients and the population at large.

"The wasteful program created by this law subjects Floridians who are impacted by the economic downturn, as well as their families, to a humiliating search of their urine and body fluids without cause or even suspicion of drug abuse," said Howard Simon, executive director of ACLU Florida, in a statement.

(Editing by Colleen Jenkins

Why don't we just drug test everyone and make all the positives wear "I am a drug addict" shirts? No matter what your class or status.

wrong thread. LOL

The previous pilot program ended up costing more money than it was worth.
So few of the recipients tested positive, that very few people were dropped from welfare.  The amount of money saved by not paying benefits to those who tested positive was not enough to offset even the cost of the drug tests themselves, let alone the administrative costs of the program.

The cost of the actual tests themselves in the new program is considerably lower than the cost of the tests in the pilot program, which may reduce some costs.  On the other hand, the significantly increased overhead involved in taking the program state-wide will probably run in excess of the money recouped from beneficiaries whose benefits are halted due to drug use.

Frankly, the only thing I see this doing is encouraging people to abuse more serious drugs, or simply drink more alcohol.
Marijuana, the most benign and widely used illegal drug is also the drug that takes the longest to exit one's system.  Compare that to cocaine, methamphetamine and other similar drugs, which a person can test negative in a urinalysis withing 72 hours of having ingested the substance.

Of course, they won't be testing for alcohol at all.

Many folks believe that those on welfare should have to do some kind of govt work in exchange for the help, even if somewhat minimals.  Most could easily do online work for the govt if they cannot go to a job in a govt facility.  This could be used as a gateway to get these folks into the private work place again if the economy ever improves.  I think this type of program has been used to a limited degree in some areas but I don't know how these pilot programs worked out.  Generally this is what folks want for those who receive welfare and it makes good sense.

The system in question is the TEMPORARY assistance program.  The maximum length of time any adult can spend in the program is 48 months.  Once an adult has spent 48 months in the program, they are barred from ever re-joining it.

Additionally, they must satisfy Work requirements to receive payment:

A single parent [who is not disabled per Social Security] with a child under the age of six, must spend at least 20 hours per week doing the following:

•    Unsubsidized employment
•    Subsidized private sector employment
•    Subsidized public sector employment
•    Job search and job readiness (limited to not more than 6 weeks in a
federal fiscal year with not more than 4 weeks consecutive).
•    Community service
•    Work experience
•    On-the-job training
•    Vocational educational training (limited to 12 months for an individual),
and
•    Caring for a child of a recipient in community service


A single parent [who is not disabled per Social Security] whose children are over the age of six must spend at least must spend at least 30 hours doing the above.
A two parent household [neither of whom is disabled per Social Security], who are receiving a Federal childcare subsidy must spend at least 55 hours per week doing the above.

Persons who fail to meet the work requirements have their payments terminated.

Okay, Mudwick, very good information.  This program needs to be expanded and made permanent with good job training for private employment.  Soimebody has been thinking this through and coming up with good solutions based on the program you have described.  This needs to be taken nationwide.

Preston, every state DOES have this program.
When people talk about "welfare", this is usually the program they are referring to.  Most of this country has NO clue what "welfare" actually entails.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is the name at the Federal level- most states give their own name to the progam [with many calling it "Welfare to Work" or a similar title].

It's a program established and funded by the Federal Government with minimum criteria, which is individuallly adminstered by each State.
States can introduce additional restrictions to the program, such as further limiting eligibility requirements [passing drug tests, children must be immunized, etc], reducing the maximum lifetime payments, or increasing the amount of work hours.

Federal Law limits payments to families with dependant children [or those in at least their six month of pregnancy], US Citizens and those w/o Felony Convictions.
Federal Law requires that participants must meet work requirements [see previous post].
Federal Law limits receipt of benefits to 60 months per lifetime.
Federal Law prohibits payment to persons with unpaid child support.
Federal Law requires that recipients accept any legal job offer they receive.

States are also required to have locally funded "diversion" programs, for those who need assistence on an even more temporary basis [essentially one-time emergency grants by the State], to receive money from the Federal TANF program.

Okay, Mudwick, in my state we have a situation where a large number of "protected political refugees"(well over 10,000) who have been given complete welfare benefits that others on regular welfare do not get.  These are refugees that have been brought in under federal status as political refugees from persecution, given paid political sanctuary.  They are given generous housing allowances, govt and hospital "guaranteed jobs" (almost impossible to fire them and many have a bad attitude and are lazy) 100% paid medical and dental, taxi cab vouchers or access to car loans, free college education for themselves and their children and more. Some have moved into expensive suburban homes and drive brand new $40k SUVs.  When they group together the amount of aid and benefits they get is very substantial.  Last halloween, one of these kids in high school was waiting for the bus and as she ate her halloween candy she flipped the empty wrappers one after another into my neighbors yard.  Some of the other kids waiting looked at her like she was whacky. She didn't have a clue because this is how they live in her country of origin.  The local newspapers plaster their photos on every cover and keep praising diversity and how great it is for society, article after article. Very strange indeed. 

One of my friends wife works as a receptionist at a local large, world famous hospital and clinic and she has said that these folks come in with  translater provided and go right to the head of the line and have 100% complete paid insurance with no copays.  They cut in at the front of the line by orders of hospital administration and avoid a 20-30 minute wait. Many of the older regular patients can turned away when they find out how much their copay is and must then wait for their elective surgery because they do not have enough money for their copays and must come back weeks later when they have set aside enough for their copays.  My friend's wife is furious about this and can't understand how the feds could give these refugees so much of our taxpayer money.  When she has asked administration about this see is told, is a federal program, "we have nothing to do with it".  In a time when the US Govt is supposed going broke or is technically nakrupt, how can the govt justify these massive and highly expensive "rescue and transfer expiditions that provide sanctuary and citizenship"?

What state is that, and what is the name of the benefit/program these "protected political refugees" are receiving?

Last halloween, one of these kids in high school was waiting for the bus and as she ate her halloween candy she flipped the empty wrappers one after another into my neighbors yard.  Some of the other kids waiting looked at her like she was whacky. She didn't have a clue because this is how they live in her country of origin. 

One of my friends wife works as a receptionist at a local large, world famous hospital and clinic and she has said that these folks come in with  translater provided and go right to the head of the line ...  They cut in at the front of the line by orders of hospital administration and avoid a 20-30 minute wait.

What does any of that have to do with welfare?
How does your friend know that these people aren't US Citizens?
How did you know that the girl at the busstop wasn't born in the US?