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Wasilla Lawmaker Proposes Drug Testing for Public AssistanceBill proposes "random and suspicion-based" testing for those receiving cash assistanceRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - If you're getting food stamps, or other public assistance from the state, you may have to first pass a drug and alcohol test. Mat-Su Valley lawmaker Wes Keller (R-Wasilla), the author of House Bill 16, wants more strings attached for those who receive public welfare Keller said the drug testing is necessary because there's a “statewide threat to public safety” when people use public funds to buy alcohol and drugs. The proposed bill would authorize the division of public assistance to begin "random and suspicion-based" testing of those who receive public assistance. The testing would screen for drugs like marijuana, opiates, and methamphetamine. According to the text of the bill, if a recipient were to test positive for the drugs—or refuse testing—the department would be able to "deny or suspend" cash assistance. “The intent,” Keller said, “is to find the substance abuse and address the substance abuse problem with the person who's asking for public assistance.” Keller added that the bill empowers those who work directly with recipients to make important judgment calls. “If you're a front line social worker and you are exposed to the people who are asking for help,” he said, “it's only logical you give them some discretion.” The bill says assistance would be "denied or suspended" if individuals don't undertake a "approved treatment program." But what those programs are, neither Keller (in an interview today), nor the bill, make clear. Keller did highlight one provision in the bill, one that would allow children to receive benefits through a third party if their parents were denied through the drug test. Keller said that taking away assistance from someone already in need had to potential to make things worse. And to that end, he said he wants to work on the bill's language to provide specifics for treatment options. Until that happens, critics like the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, think the bill bashes the poor. “That's what this bill is proposing,” said Jeffrey Mittman, the executive director of the ACLU in Alaska, “it’s essentially criminalizing individuals without any basis and saying, we are going to randomly drug test you, alcohol test you, we're going to conduct a search and seizure, based on nothing more than we want to categorize you as a group.” Other states have attempted similar measures: in Florida, the drug tests may have cost the state more money than it saved, as only a small number of applicants were found to be abusing drugs or alcohol. And the bill might be familiar to Alaskans: Keller introduced a similar bill in last year's legislature. For links to legislative action on HB16, and the full text of the bill, can be found here. |
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Mariella said on Monday, Jan 28 at 7:54 PM
That is the dumbest statement I've ever heard: "criminalizing individuals without any basis?" What? Don't employers do that every day of the week? My totally NON-drug using brother was once denied a job that had no safety issues involved because he refused to pee in a cup. He felt it was a violation of his personal rights and why should he have to without any evidence that he used? He said that if he was on the job and displayed "strange" behavior, fine, he'd pee on command, but not as a standard practice for no reason. He even said he would do it if he was in a job that had safety issues at play (airline pilot, truck driver, etc.). But sitting at a desk? No. But taxpayers are supposed to pay for programs that just hand out money and food to anyone and somehow it's offensive to make them pee in a cup?
112412491Teresa said on Monday, Jan 28 at 8:45 PM
All employees at our company must take a drug test before being hired even for sitting at a desk. It protects the company so I think that if someone wants a job and has nothing to hide they will do it.
112414551AK said on Monday, Jan 28 at 8:47 PM
"cash assistance" I'm sure not all assistance will be stopped. I haven't read the bill, nor do I plan to because even though it sounds fair to do that, ACLU will never let go of the lie. I have to take about 1 drug test a month for my job, sometimes more. No big deal. Condition of employment. But to put a condition on free handouts others are paying for, yah that bashes on the poor, not the payers.
112414631unknown said on Monday, Jan 28 at 10:07 PM
I am a food stamp recipient and I support this action!
112417121pawtalker said on Monday, Jan 28 at 10:17 PM
I'd like to see EVERYONE in a home that receives public assistance, have to undergo testing.
112417311that designer meth backfiring? said on Monday, Jan 28 at 11:35 PM
well by all means keller why don't you take one? you will test positive for opiates and alcohol...and your little miss skarah is a designer meth user hu? lol...
112419265TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 9:48 AM
ACLU is one of the most dangerous liberal organizations in our nation. Their effort to destroy the concept of our Constitution knows no bound. They trivialized our Constitution by making everything a constitutional issue when they are not. Only thing that is off their shelves ironically, is the Second Amendment which they will NOT defend. How can you criminalized the poor by a drug test? Just because you are poor doesn't make you a druggie, criminal or substance abusers. Typical ACLU blanket statement.
112450366hows it going keller? said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 10:11 AM
so the kid is back on ATAP because your quitter won't give up the BIRTHRIGHT trust fund that is HUGE and Parnell legally labeled "vulnerable adult" to keep it in the Alaska slush fund...too bad the kid is taking the matter to court with a federal DNA test ordered and INTERPOL is watching and waiting for crimes they can act on...hmmm... Let us know how that works out for ya...grin... And I am with Ted - they crucify ANYONE they can...Power of the Peoples now...just say no...
112452102sk said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 10:24 AM
Why not drug tested our Law makers too. lets be fair.. I thought we're all equal rich or poor, Why should there be a doubble standard. They are aready considering this in some states. Why should there be a doubble stanard
112453251funny said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 11:37 AM
yeah like our lawmakers would pass a drug test... they are more wired daily then any of us on a given weekend to have a beer or a drag from a joint...lol.. Good idea to drug test themselves...if they can do it then by all means we can do it...but the results cannot be lied about like their budgets!
112459742food stamp reciever said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 2:55 PM
anyone with half a brain can fake a drug test
112473442nancyglaubitz@yahoo.com said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 4:34 PM
It is a crime to aid & abet criminal actions, so continueing to give subsistance/assistance to proven drug abusers is aiding & abetting them. I do not want my government to be aiding and abetting criminals. Do you?
112478976Marisa said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 8:31 AM
Isn't this just a waste of taxpayer dollars? Alaska is a medical marijuana state with the "highest" (haha) number of registered users nationwide. I'm sure some of these people require public assistance. How will they differentiate? More tests? More laws? More wasted tax payer dollars?
112523161nancy is in bubble land said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 3:30 PM
go Gerry-mander your politics elsewhere my dear
112553262donna said on Thursday, Jan 31 at 11:29 AM
So what about all the homeless on Food stamps, how do you expect them to sober up and quit their habits? This is another way to put kids in homes cause their parents can't past drug test, oh yeah, more children in homes, so the State makes more money, whose third party? The OCS? Yeah, how many children you think they will end up getting? I don't get assistance, buit I am thinking man this is another way to get awhole of more children and put into state custody for parents with bad addictions. I think this is all a waste of money. I feel for people who are addicted, the children always suffering for them.
112610822JSouder said on Thursday, Jan 31 at 11:54 AM
I hope that Wes Keller also includes exclusions for people who are not on "drugs" but who are on medications that will make them fail those kind of drug tests. Making it an across the board pass/fail will really hurt a lot of people. There are people collecting that cannot get a job or on partial assistance because of health issues. These are the ones that will be hurt.
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