HB197 Alabama 2012 Session
In Committee
Bill Summary
Sponsors
Session
Regular Session 2012
Title
Human Resources Dept, TANF, drug testing for substance abuse based on reasonable suspicion for eligibility for benefits, required, ineligibility under certain conditions, department to implement
Description
<p class="bill_description"> Under existing law, there is no requirement
that an adult applying for the Department of Human
Resources' Family Assistance Program for temporary
cash assistance funded by the Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) Program Block Grant must
be tested for drug abuse if there is a reasonable
suspicion that the applicant may be engaging in or
be under the influence of an illegal controlled
substance</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would establish such a
requirement</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would require the Department of
Human Resources to be responsible for determining
the existence of reasonable suspicion of substance
abuse</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would require the Department of
Human Resources to establish drug testing protocols
and procedures for TANF applications</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would provide for notice of
testing procedures to be provided to TANF
applicants</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would specify that positive test
results are not admissible in any criminal
proceeding, but are admissible in Department of
Human Resources administrative hearings and
judicial review</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would provide that any adult who
fails the drug test would be ineligible to directly
receive TANF temporary cash assistance and would be
referred for substance abuse assessment</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would provide that any adult who
refuses or delays taking the drug test would be
ineligible to receive TANF cash assistance under
that application</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would provide for reimbursement
for the cost of negative drug tests</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would provide for the department
to promulgate rules necessary to implement this
act</p><p class="bill_entitled_an_act"> Relating to public assistance, to require the
Department of Human Resources to implement and administer a
drug screening program based upon reasonable suspicion for any
adult applying for temporary cash payments under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program; to require the
department to provide notice of the drug screening to
applicants; to specify who is responsible for costs associated
with the drug tests; to provide that an adult testing positive
for a drug under this screening program is ineligible to
receive certain public assistance; to require substance abuse
assessments for applicants who test positive under the
program; to allow a parent of a minor child who tests positive
for an illegal controlled substance to designate a protective
payee on behalf of a minor child or other cash benefit unit
member; to specify the use of positive test results under the
program; and to authorize the department to promulgate rules
to implement this act.
</p>
Subjects
Human Resources Department
Bill Actions
| Action Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2012 | Indefinitely Postponed | |
| March 1, 2012 | Read for the second time and placed on the calendar | |
| February 7, 2012 | Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on State Government |
Bill Text
Bill Documents
| Type | Link |
|---|---|
| Bill Text | HB197 Alabama 2012 Session - Introduced |