Ind. Drug Testing For Welfare Bill Advances

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 6:29 AM

Rep. Jud McMillin

www.in.gov

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - A local lawmaker’s drug testing for welfare bill passed an Indiana House committee Tuesday.

State Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville) authored House Bill 1007, which now goes to the full House for consideration.

The bill’s language states the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services Administration would be required to develop and establish a pilot program in three counties to test for the use of controlled substances under certain conditions by an individual’s receiving money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

If a person were to fail the drug test, they would lose those benefits.

The nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency projects the program could cost Indiana up to $1.11 million to implement in the first year.

“Someone has to lead the charge (for entitlement reform) and find away to do it in a manner that the federal courts find to be constitutional. I am hopeful that we can do that right here in Indiana,” McMillin told Eagle 99.3 as he researched the bill last October.

McMillin said he had to consider constitutional challenges to similar laws passed last year in Missouri and Florida when writing the bill.

The Indiana law would go into effect July 1.

LINKS:

Rep. McMillin Studying Welfare Drug Testing Bill