LEGISLATOR WANTS DRUG TESTING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS

(02/12/2010)

Berkeley County delegate Craig Blair (Republican) has entered a bill in the legislature to randomly drug-test West Virginians who receive public assistance. "I want this to be a bipartisan bill," he said. "It's about doing the right thing toward the taxpayers and people who are addicted to drugs," Blair said. The drug testing measure failed to get traction last session. It covered everyone who received food stamps, unemployment compensation, and other public assistance. The latest random testing bill is only for those receiving public assistance, and would require those flunking the test to seek treatment for addiction. Opponents say the bill unfairly targets poor people, also citing the failure of government efforts to test all school teachers. The drug testing bill, not unlike most drug testing programs, excludes the most widely used drug, alcohol. The bill would not cut off people's benefits if they were enrolled in a drug-treatment program. Critics also cited the lack of affordable treatment. The latest proposal also would require legislators to be drug-tested, again excluding alcohol. Several states have passed such legislation, with some efforts being declared unconstitutional.

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