House Bill 1196

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS WHO ARE 13 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER SHALL BE SUBJECT TO TAKING A DRUG TEST ON A RANDOM BASIS TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITY TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE BENEFITS; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A RECIPIENT IS GIVEN A DRUG TEST AND HE OR SHE TESTS POSITIVE FOR ANY PROHIBITED DRUG, THE RECIPIENT MUST RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE THROUGH A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OR A LOCAL MEDICAL PROVIDER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE RECIPIENT WILL REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE BENEFITS WHILE RECEIVING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT; TO REQUIRE THE RECIPIENT TO PRESENT DOCUMENTED PROOF FROM A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OR A LOCAL MEDICAL PROVIDER, NOT LATER THAN 90 DAYS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR A DRUG, THAT HE OR SHE IS FREE FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE BENEFITS; TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT PRESENT DOCUMENTED PROOF THAT HE OR SHE IS FREE FROM SUBSTANCE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME, THE RECIPIENT SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN 90 DAYS; TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER THAT PERIOD, A PERSON MAY REAPPLY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS, AND WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS AGAIN IF THE PERSON PASSES ANOTHER DRUG TEST; TO DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A TESTING PROGRAM WITH SUCH STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES DEEMED NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL TESTING REQUIRED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE PERFORMED AT THE MISSISSIPPI CRIME LABORATORY OR AT A LABORATORY APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSIPPI CRIME LABORATORY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-13-115 AND 43-17-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Deborah Butler Dixon

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 21 – Feb 5

1. Jan 21Referred to the House committee on Appropriations
2. Feb 5Died in committee in the House