SO, I was reading about how they are already rolling out plans to drug test randomly people on welfare more specifically those that have had a felony or criminal offense in the past 10 years. Seem's a little intrusive but on the same note necessary. I don't think that all people should be scrutinized only because they committed a mistake many years ago but there are a lot of people who shouldn't get help, they need to I think more closely scrutinize those they are thinking of drug testing so that they don't infringe on any good people who legitimately need assistance but occasionally smoke maybe even for medical reasons. It's definitely a difficult subject and place to be in what do you all think here the article check it out and sound off here.
St. Cloud-area counties are preparing to begin randomly testing some welfare recipients as required by a state law aimed at preventing drug users from receiving public assistance.
County officials complain the new rules are time-consuming to adopt and will affect a very small number of people.
The testing requirement, added as an amendment during the 2012 legislative session, passed with little debate. County officials say it apparently was based on a misperception that many welfare recipients are using illegal drugs.
In the past, those applying for cash assistance and other benefits were asked to identify whether they had been convicted of a felony drug offense, but few did so.
The new law requires the state Department of Human Services to identify people currently receiving welfare benefits who were convicted of a felony drug offense and notify each county. Stearns County's list included 44 names, said Janet Goligowski, gateway services director with the county human services department.
Counties are required to implement random drug testing of those people, Goligowski said. However, the Legislature did not specify what "random" means, so the policies likely will vary from county to county, she said.
The testing applies to people who receive Minnesota Supplemental Aid, General Assistance and the Minnesota Family Investment Program. Statewide, 1.62 percent of people on those programs had a felony drug conviction in the past 10 years, according to state records. That compares to about 1.2 percent of the general population.
At least nine U.S. states have passed legislation regarding drug testing or screening for public assistance applicants or recipients, according to Rochelle Finzel, director of children and families program of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some apply to all applicants, while others include language that there must be a reason to believe the person is engaging in illegal drug activity or has a substance abuse disorder.
Stearns County officials are working on a process to send people on the list a letter informing them of the new law and telling them when to show up for testing. If they test positive, they could face sanctions depending upon which program they are enrolled in, Goligowski said.
The requirement has meant significant additional work for the county, Goligowski said. The Legislature did not provide any funding with the new requirements, so counties will have to pick up the additional costs, she said.
In Sherburne County, the probation office will handle drug testing, said Cathy Stubbs, income maintenance program supervisor in the county human services department. The expense will depend on which test is run, but a typical five-panel screen costs $15 with additional amounts for each confirmed drug, she said.
Stubbs said she anticipates that the number of tests conducted will be low. The quarterly report the county received from DHS in October included eight names, and the number is expected to drop in future reports after all the past convictions have been identified, she said.
"I don't see that it will be a large dollar amount for our department at this point," Stubbs said.
Benton County officials say they are starting work on a policy to handle the testing requirements.
Source: St. Cloud Times | sctimes.com
St. Cloud-area counties are preparing to begin randomly testing some welfare recipients as required by a state law aimed at preventing drug users from receiving public assistance.
County officials complain the new rules are time-consuming to adopt and will affect a very small number of people.
The testing requirement, added as an amendment during the 2012 legislative session, passed with little debate. County officials say it apparently was based on a misperception that many welfare recipients are using illegal drugs.
In the past, those applying for cash assistance and other benefits were asked to identify whether they had been convicted of a felony drug offense, but few did so.
The new law requires the state Department of Human Services to identify people currently receiving welfare benefits who were convicted of a felony drug offense and notify each county. Stearns County's list included 44 names, said Janet Goligowski, gateway services director with the county human services department.
Counties are required to implement random drug testing of those people, Goligowski said. However, the Legislature did not specify what "random" means, so the policies likely will vary from county to county, she said.
The testing applies to people who receive Minnesota Supplemental Aid, General Assistance and the Minnesota Family Investment Program. Statewide, 1.62 percent of people on those programs had a felony drug conviction in the past 10 years, according to state records. That compares to about 1.2 percent of the general population.
At least nine U.S. states have passed legislation regarding drug testing or screening for public assistance applicants or recipients, according to Rochelle Finzel, director of children and families program of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some apply to all applicants, while others include language that there must be a reason to believe the person is engaging in illegal drug activity or has a substance abuse disorder.
Stearns County officials are working on a process to send people on the list a letter informing them of the new law and telling them when to show up for testing. If they test positive, they could face sanctions depending upon which program they are enrolled in, Goligowski said.
The requirement has meant significant additional work for the county, Goligowski said. The Legislature did not provide any funding with the new requirements, so counties will have to pick up the additional costs, she said.
In Sherburne County, the probation office will handle drug testing, said Cathy Stubbs, income maintenance program supervisor in the county human services department. The expense will depend on which test is run, but a typical five-panel screen costs $15 with additional amounts for each confirmed drug, she said.
Stubbs said she anticipates that the number of tests conducted will be low. The quarterly report the county received from DHS in October included eight names, and the number is expected to drop in future reports after all the past convictions have been identified, she said.
"I don't see that it will be a large dollar amount for our department at this point," Stubbs said.
Benton County officials say they are starting work on a policy to handle the testing requirements.
Source: St. Cloud Times | sctimes.com
