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This bill would require state to test applicants and recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for illegal drug use. Testing would be done at the state’s discretion — randomly or at scheduled intervals.

State TANF programs would be required to deny benefits to people who test positive for illegal drugs and people who are convicted of drug-related crimes. Anyone denied benefits through either of these conditions would have to successfully complete a drug rehabilitation program and not fail a drug test for six months to have their assistance restored. TANF recipients can continue to receive assistance during that six month period so long as they don’t fail a drug test, and have never been convicted of a drug-related felony.

If a TANF applicant has been denied assistance three times because of failed drug tests or drug crime convictions, or any combination of failed tests and convictions, they would be permanently barred from receiving benefits from the state.

This bill would take effect one year after its enactment and states would be given a grace period in which to introduce conforming state-level legislation, if necessary. State governors would be required to certify that their state’s testing program conforms to the requirements established in this legislation.

","official_title":"A bill to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to implement a drug testing program for applicants for and recipients of assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.","short_title":"Drug Free Families Act of 2015","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Drug Free Families Act of 2015\n\n Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require state TANF programs to implement a program to test TANF applicants and recipients for illegal drug use.\n\nRequires state TANF programs to deny assistance to individuals who test positive for illegal drugs and individuals convicted of drug-related crimes.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable. ","impact":"People who receive (or are eligible for) TANF benefits, their families, state welfare programs that administer TANF, state governors, the Secretary of Health and Human Services. ","argument_for":"These federal benefits should only be available to those who earnestly want to get back on their feet — people who abuse illegal drugs have clearly not made that commitment. This drug testing program would weed out the people who should not be collecting benefits funded by taxpayer dollars. ","argument_against":"Illegal drug use is not higher among the welfare beneficiary population than it is in the general population — legislation like this aims to target the needy, creating stigmas about the poor, and whether they \"really need\" benefits. There are also questions about the constitutionality of these tests. 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Should Passing A Drug Test Be Required For Welfare Benefits?