House Bill 1229

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 OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS IS GIVEN A DRUG TEST AND HE OR SHE TESTS POSITIVE FOR ANY DRUG FOR WHICH A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE A VALID PRESCRIPTION, OR TESTS POSITIVE FOR A DRUG FOR WHICH THE PERSON HAS A VALID PRESCRIPTION WITH A DOSAGE IN THE BODY THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE AMOUNT AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESCRIPTION, THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY SHALL TERMINATE THE RECIPIENT'S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AND THE RECIPIENT SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS OR SIX MONTHS, OR PERMANENTLY IF THE RECIPIENT HAS TESTED POSITIVE ON THE DRUG TEST ON AT LEAST ONE OTHER OCCASION; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON WHO IS INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR SIX MONTHS MAY REAPPLY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AFTER NOT RECEIVING THE BENEFITS FOR SIX MONTHS, AND WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS AGAIN IF THE PERSON PASSES ANOTHER DRUG TEST; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL PERFORM THE DRUG TESTS AUTHORIZED BY THIS ACT, AND THE COST OF THE DRUG TESTS SHALL BE PAID BY THE RECIPIENT; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A RECIPIENT TESTS NEGATIVE ON THE DRUG TEST, THEN THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY SHALL REPAY THE RECIPIENT THE AMOUNT OF THE DRUG TEST; 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

• William Tracy Arnold

  Sponsor

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

In the House of Representatives Jan 20 – Feb 4

1. Jan 20Referred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
2. Feb 4Died in committee in the House