Florida to Drug Test Welfare Recipients

[hideaway70]

Opinions? Here is were we will see FPers political ideologies shine...

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011...nts-rick-scott

[evilkumquat]

It's ridiculous and humiliating and a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Here we have Republicans saying, essentially, "If you are on welfare, you are probably a drug user."

The article also fails to bring up the fact that Florida Governor Scott co-founded a company that provides drug testing and his shares are still in a trust in his wife's name.

I mean, Jesus, he's not even TRYING to make this look legitimate.

[HomeyG]

It's ridiculous and humiliating and a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Here we have Republicans saying, essentially, "If you are on welfare, you are probably a drug user."

The article also fails to bring up the fact that Florida Governor Scott co-founded a company that provides drug testing and his shares are still in a trust in his wife's name.

I mean, Jesus, he's not even TRYING to make this look legitimate.

Gee, If you are in the military, or a policeman, fireman or even work at Home Depot you must be drug users because all of these test for drugs.

[hideaway70]

The article also fails to bring up the fact that Florida Governor Scott co-founded a company that provides drug testing and his shares are still in a trust in his wife's name.

I mean, Jesus, he's not even TRYING to make this look legitimate.

I looked at a couple of different articles, but it would be interesting to see a different perspective...

[blue adept]

Gee, If you are in the military, or a policeman, fireman or even work at Home Depot you must be drug users because all of these test for drugs.

Those people are in a position of power with dangerous equipment, and quite often run down the road at extreme speed Homey, I would say there is a big difference.

[Graygleam]

Gee, If you are in the military, or a policeman, fireman or even work at Home Depot you must be drug users because all of these test for drugs.

Do all of these folks have to be tested at one of Gov. Rick Scott's clinics ?

[michael medeski]

i think if they are going to test, they should be fair and test for caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine as well. PLUS they need to make sure they adhere to strict diets and maintain a normal body fat ratio. also start handing out the checks after church on sunday (domination voted on by house and senate, final approval signed by president.)

[HomeyG]

Those people are in a position of power with dangerous equipment, and quite often run down the road at extreme speed Homey, I would say there is a big difference.

My God, I didn't know my typewriter was a dangerous equipment, wish I would have known that I would have asked for hazardous duty pay.

[TLC528]

This is long overdue. There is nothing wrong with having to take a drug test to receive assistance based on tax dollars. I will never understand why there would be an issue with this. I am randomly tested by my employer and think nothing of it. If I were to become unemployed and had to take a drug test to qualify for unemployment, so be it. If I am reading the proposal correctly they are only testing for illegal drugs. GOOD test away. For the record, test congress, test the senate, I’m ok with that…test any employee or recipient of money generated from tax dollars.

[evilkumquat]

This is long overdue. There is nothing wrong with having to take a drug test to receive assistance based on tax dollars. I will never understand why there would be an issue with this. I am randomly tested by my employer and think nothing of it. If I were to become unemployed and had to take a drug test to qualify for unemployment, so be it. If I am reading the proposal correctly they are only testing for illegal drugs. GOOD test away. For the record, test congress, test the senate, I’m ok with that…test any employee or recipient of money generated from tax dollars.

Yeah, there are always some people who don't care when Constitutional rights get violated.

[TLC528]

Yeah, there are always some people who don't care when Constitutional rights get violated.

The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause

I’m not seeing how a drug test equates. NOBODY is going to their home and saying “pee in a cup”. People are coming to the government asking for assistance. IF they want the assistance and they of free will request it, I do NOT see a violation of the 4th amendment.

[blue adept]

My God, I didn't know my typewriter was a dangerous equipment, wish I would have known that I would have asked for hazardous duty pay.

Where did you use your typewriter Homey, the military? If so, are you telling me that you were not first and foremost a soldier? do not soldiers have access to weapons? Nice try.

[HomeyG]

Where did you use your typewriter Homey, the military? If so, are you telling me that you were not first and foremost a soldier? do not soldiers have access to weapons? Nice try.

Yep and nope. I was in the Air Force and they wouldn't let me be behind the stick of an F-16. They did let me fly a KC-135 simulator but I crashed on takeoff.

[blue adept]

Yep and nope. I was in the Air Force and they wouldn't let me be behind the stick of an F-16.

If you were an airman, then your first and foremost duty is as a soldier. Do not say nope, I have trained enough airmen to know they are also considered soldiers get a lot of the same training, go to the firing range, and are expected to be soldiers when required.

[HomeyG]

If you were an airman, then your first and foremost duty is as a soldier. Do not say nope, I have trained enough airmen to know they are also considered soldiers get a lot of the same training, go to the firing range, and are expected to be soldiers when required.

In the Air Force we don't call airmen, soldiers. That's like calling a Marine a sailor, they get quite upset. In my first four years I qualified on the M-1, M-16 and '38 and that was the only time I fired them. My last twenty years the closest I came to shooting a weapon was at a penny arcade. Besides drug testing for most in the Air Force was not done because of their duties, but it was done as a deterrent.

[Mrs.Slotz]

If one gets denied welfare because they are using illegal drugs; will they get kicked to the curb or will they get offered some in house treatment?

[HomeyG]

If one gets denied welfare because they are using illegal drugs; will they get kicked to the curb or will they get offered some in house treatment?

Following pasted from House Bill 353-2011
(h) Inform an individual who tests positive for a
73 controlled substance and is deemed ineligible for TANF benefits
74 that the individual may reapply for those benefits 1 year after
75 the date of the positive drug test unless the individual meets
76 the requirements of paragraph (j). If the individual tests
77 positive again, he or she is ineligible to receive TANF benefits
78 for 3 years after the date of the second positive drug test
79 unless the individual meets the requirements of paragraph (j).
80 (i) Provide any individual who tests positive with a list
81 of licensed substance abuse treatment providers available in the
82 area in which he or she resides that meet the requirements of s.
83 397.401 and are licensed by the department. Neither the
84 department nor the state is responsible for providing or paying
85 for substance abuse treatment as part of the screening conducted
86 under this section.
87 (j) An individual who tests positive under this section
88 and is denied TANF benefits as a result may reapply for those
89 benefits after 6 months if the individual can document the
90 successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program
91 offered by a provider that meets the requirements of s. 397.401
92 and is licensed by the department. An individual who has met the
93 requirements of this paragraph and reapplies for TANF benefits
94 must also pass an initial drug test and meet the requirements of
95 subsection (1). Any drug test conducted while the individual is
96 undergoing substance abuse treatment must meet the requirements
97 of subsection (1). The cost of any drug testing and substance
98 abuse treatment provided under this section shall be the
99 responsibility of the individual being tested and receiving
100 treatment. An individual who fails the drug test required under
101 subsection (1) may reapply for benefits under this paragraph
102 only once.
103 (3) If a parent is deemed ineligible for TANF benefits as
104 a result of failing a drug test conducted under this section:
105 (a) The dependent child's eligibility for TANF benefits is
106 not affected.
107 (b) An appropriate protective payee shall be designated to
108 receive benefits on behalf of the child.
109 (c) The parent may choose to designate another individual
110 to receive benefits for the parent's minor child. The designated
111 individual must be an immediate family member or, if an
112 immediate family member is not available or the family member
113 declines the option, another individual, approved by the
114 department, may be designated. The designated individual must
115 also undergo drug testing before being approved to receive
116 benefits on behalf of the child. If the designated individual
117 tests positive for controlled substances, he or she is
118 ineligible to receive benefits on behalf of the child.
119 (4) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
120 section.
121 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

[Mrs.Slotz]

Following pasted from House Bill 353-2011
(h) Inform an individual who tests positive for a
73 controlled substance and is deemed ineligible for TANF benefits
74 that the individual may reapply for those benefits 1 year after
75 the date of the positive drug test unless the individual meets
76 the requirements of paragraph (j). If the individual tests
77 positive again, he or she is ineligible to receive TANF benefits
78 for 3 years after the date of the second positive drug test
79 unless the individual meets the requirements of paragraph (j).
80 (i) Provide any individual who tests positive with a list
81 of licensed substance abuse treatment providers available in the
82 area in which he or she resides that meet the requirements of s.
83 397.401 and are licensed by the department. Neither the
84 department nor the state is responsible for providing or paying
85 for substance abuse treatment as part of the screening conducted
86 under this section.
87 (j) An individual who tests positive under this section
88 and is denied TANF benefits as a result may reapply for those
89 benefits after 6 months if the individual can document the
90 successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program
91 offered by a provider that meets the requirements of s. 397.401
92 and is licensed by the department. An individual who has met the
93 requirements of this paragraph and reapplies for TANF benefits
94 must also pass an initial drug test and meet the requirements of
95 subsection (1). Any drug test conducted while the individual is
96 undergoing substance abuse treatment must meet the requirements
97 of subsection (1). The cost of any drug testing and substance
98 abuse treatment provided under this section shall be the
99 responsibility of the individual being tested and receiving
100 treatment. An individual who fails the drug test required under
101 subsection (1) may reapply for benefits under this paragraph
102 only once.
103 (3) If a parent is deemed ineligible for TANF benefits as
104 a result of failing a drug test conducted under this section:
105 (a) The dependent child's eligibility for TANF benefits is
106 not affected.
107 (b) An appropriate protective payee shall be designated to
108 receive benefits on behalf of the child.
109 (c) The parent may choose to designate another individual
110 to receive benefits for the parent's minor child. The designated
111 individual must be an immediate family member or, if an
112 immediate family member is not available or the family member
113 declines the option, another individual, approved by the
114 department, may be designated. The designated individual must
115 also undergo drug testing before being approved to receive
116 benefits on behalf of the child. If the designated individual
117 tests positive for controlled substances, he or she is
118 ineligible to receive benefits on behalf of the child.
119 (4) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
120 section.
121 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

These are some pretty stiff rules. At least the children won't be affected if a parent fails the drug test.

[evilkumquat]

The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause

I’m not seeing how a drug test equates. NOBODY is going to their home and saying “pee in a cup”. People are coming to the government asking for assistance. IF they want the assistance and they of free will request it, I do NOT see a violation of the 4th amendment.

The drug test is making the presumption that the welfare recipient is a user. Rather than catch the welfare recipient with drugs on him, or watching him act in an erratic manner, or arresting him during a drug bust, it is assumed they must have something to hide until they prove otherwise.

There is NO good reason to do drug tests on them other than further degrade and humiliate them.

[Graygleam]

The drug test is making the presumption that the welfare recipient is a user. Rather than catch the welfare recipient with drugs on him, or watching him act in an erratic manner, or arresting him during a drug bust, it is assumed they must have something to hide until they prove otherwise.

There is NO good reason to do drug tests on them other than further degrade and humiliate them.

Well Evil, they are just poor people after all. (The preceding is sarcasm)