SS/SCS/HCS/HBs 73 & 47 - This act requires the Department of Social Services to develop a program to screen each applicant or recipient of temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) benefits, and then test, using a urine dipstick five panel test, each one who the department has reasonable cause to believe, based on the screening, engages in illegal use of controlled substances. Any applicant or recipient who is found to have tested positive for the use of a controlled substance after an administrative hearing shall be declared ineligible for temporary assistance for needy families benefits for a period of three years from the date of the administrative hearing decision. However, such person shall continue to receive benefits if such person successfully completes a substance abuse treatment program and does not test positive for illegal use of a controlled substance in the 6 month period beginning on the date the individual enters such treatment program. The individual shall receive benefits while in treatment. If the individual tests positive for the use of illegal drugs a second time, then such individual shall be declared ineligible for temporary assistance for needy families benefits for a period of three years from the date of the administrative hearing decision. Case workers of applicants or recipients shall be required to report or cause a report to be made to the Children's Division in instances where the case worker has reasonable suspicion to believe that such individual is engaging in illegal use of a controlled substance, such individual has tested positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance or has refused to be tested.
Other members of a household which includes a person who has been declared ineligible for TANF shall, if otherwise eligible, continue to receive TANF benefits as protective or vendor payments to a third-party payee for the benefit of the members of the household.
The department shall promulgate rules to develop the screening and testing provisions of this act.
This act provides that all electronic benefits cards distributed to TANF recipients shall have imprinted on the card a photograph of the recipient or protective payee authorized to use the card. The card shall not be accepted for use by a retail establishment if the photograph of the recipient does not match the person presenting the card. Such card shall expire and be subject to renewal after a period of three years.
This act is substantially similar to SCS/SBs 7,5, 74 &169 (2011).
ADRIANE CROUSE