Bill to Drug-Test Welfare Recipients Heads to Governor

A proposed requirement to drug-test some welfare recipients is headed to the governor for his signature. The measure comes as a compromise, because it would only test those deemed suspicious.

An earlier proposal would have drug-tested welfare recipients across the board, but the attorney general says doing so would be unconstitutional. The reworked version passed the House 73 to 17, but drew ire from members like Memphis Democrat Joe Towns, who accused colleagues of singling out people who need help.

“We pick on little-bitty people in this House. It’s easy to pick on old people and babies. But this House does not pick on somebody that’s their size. How do we prevent, Representative, from profiling poor people?”

The bill calls for the Department of Human Services to craft a plan for screening applicants to decide who should be drug-tested. Those on drugs would have to get treatment, or lose their benefits for six months.