To require drug testing of applicants for various state welfare benefits, and prohibit benefits if a person tests positive.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5527, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 5527 would require drug testing for business executives whose firms receive subsidies from the state.

To require additional screening before drug tests could be administered.

To allow a welfare recipient who tests positive for illegal drug use to keep getting benefits if he or she enters a treatment program.

To allow a welfare recipient who has children and who tests positive for illegal drug use to designate a family member or other approved "protective payee" to keep getting the benefits "on behalf of the child".

To require the state to pay for the drug tests.

To require drug tests for state legislators under similar rules as those proposed by the bill.

To require drug tests for state legislators.

To keep the drug test results confidential, and also the information collected under the proposed screening process.

To discontinue welfare drug tests if less than 10 percent of those tested test positive.

To require the welfare department to file detailed reports on the proposed drug testing program.

To not apply the proposed sanctions if a person tests positive for a drug that has been prescribed or taken on under an order of medical practitioner. Presumably this includes medical marijuana.

To delay the proposed drug test program for two years.

To specify procedures for selecting the counties in a proposed pilot program for the drug testing.

To require the drug testing program to have an appeal process.

To require the welfare agency to document the grounds for suspicion and provide these to welfare recipient they identify.

To exempt welfare recipients age 65 or older from the proposed drug testing.

To require welfare applicants to be notified of the drug testing program.

To require the welfare department to file detailed reports on the proposed drug testing program.

To keep the drug test results confidential, and also the information collected under the proposed screening process.

To adopt a version of the bill that phases in the drug testing program gradually over several years, requires additional screening before drug tests could be administered, allows a welfare recipient who has children and who tests positive for illegal drug use to designate a family member or other approved "protective payee" to keep getting the benefits "on behalf of the child," and incorporates other provisions suggested by the other Democratic amendments to the bill.

To drug test all welfare recipients, not just those suspected of drug use.

To require drug testing of repipients of state welfare benefits if an "empirically validated screening tool" suggests a reasonable suspicion, and prohibit benefits if a person tests positive.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.