HB14 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Public welfare, eligibility for benefits further provided, community service program, Dept. of Human Resources, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, drug testing for certain applicants, procedure provided

Summary

HB14 would require adult public-benefit recipients to perform mandatory community service to stay eligible and would impose drug-testing for certain TANF applicants, with penalties for noncompliance or positive tests and a system to designate benefits for a child if a parent tests positive.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would require adult benefit recipients to participate in a community service program (minimum 20 hours per week) and could suspend benefits for 90 days, 180 days, or one year for repeated noncompliance, with various exemptions. It would establish a list of eligible nonprofit programs and rules for verifying the service, and require all state and local public-benefit agencies to follow these requirements. Separately, TANF applicants who have a drug offense within the past five years would be drug tested, with the initial test funded by the Department of Human Resources and subsequent tests paid by the applicant; positive results (without a valid prescription) could lead to progressive ineligibility (one warning, then one year, then permanent) and up to two additional tests per year, plus options for an administrative hearing and protective payees for dependent children.

Who It Affects

• Adult recipients of federal, state, or local public benefits who must complete mandatory community service to remain eligible, with penalties if they do not comply and various exemptions.
• TANF applicants who have a drug conviction within the past five years, who would be drug screened and face potential loss of TANF benefits if they test positive, with procedures for notices, hearings, and protective arrangements for dependent children.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory community service for public-benefit recipients (minimum 20 hours per week) to maintain eligibility; noncompliance triggers suspension periods (90 days, 180 days, then one year).
• Exceptions to mandatory community service listed (e.g., emergency health care, disaster relief, certain in-kind or life/safety programs).
• Department of Human Resources to develop standards, verify completion, and publish a monthly list of eligible nonprofit organizations; volunteer work at schools counts, but church-based volunteer work may not.
• All state and local public-benefit programs must comply with the community service requirements.
• TANF applicants with a drug offense within five years must undergo drug screening; initial cost paid by DHR, subsequent costs by the applicant; negative tests reimbursed if negative.
• Positive drug test without a valid prescription leads to penalties: first warning, second positive results ineligibility for one year, third positive results in permanent ineligibility; limited to two additional screenings per calendar year.
• Administrative hearing available for TANF benefit denials; protective payee required to receive benefits for dependent children if the applicant is permanently ineligible; designation of another eligible person allowed with department approval.
• Results of drug screenings are not admissible in criminal court but may be used in administrative hearings and related reviews.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Benefit