House Bill 387

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE A DRUG TEST ANNUALLY AND 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 REFUSES TO TAKE THE REQUIRED DRUG TEST, THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY SHALL TERMINATE THE RECIPIENT'S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AND THE RECIPIENT SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR 30 DAYS AFTER A FIRST REFUSAL TO TAKE A DRUG TEST WITHIN ONE YEAR, OR FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER A SECOND REFUSAL TO TAKE A DRUG TEST WITHIN ONE YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON WHO IS INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR THE REQUIRED PERIOD MAY REAPPLY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AFTER NOT RECEIVING THE BENEFITS FOR THE REQUIRED PERIOD, AND WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS AGAIN IF THE PERSON PASSES A DRUG TEST; 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 FOR 90 DAYS, OR FOR ONE YEAR 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 THE REQUIRED PERIOD MAY REAPPLY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AFTER NOT RECEIVING THE BENEFITS FOR THE REQUIRED PERIOD, 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 FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE DRUG TEST; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-13-115 AND 43-17-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AND TO REPEAL SECTION 43-17-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH REQUIRES CERTAIN ADULT RECIPIENTS OF TANF BENEFITS TO TAKE A DRUG TEST AND PARTICIPATE IN A SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER TREATMENT PLAN, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Dan Eubanks

  Sponsor

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

In the House of Representatives Jan 5 – Jan 31

1. Jan 5Referred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
2. Jan 31Died in committee in the House