Just recently the Louisiana senate killed a bill on a vote of 20-12. This vote affected the requiring drug testing for welfare recipients of cash assistance. This subject had been brought up and shelved over the years, the vote on it finally came up and this vote didn’t even generate enough support to get it into debate.
This is what the bill was all about. At least 20% of welfare recipients who got cash benefits would have to submit to random drug testing. Failing the test would mean to them that they would be cut off from cash benefits, housing or food benefits, if they would not consent to treatment for addiction. There is an incorrect assumption that those on welfare use more drugs than the general population, critics said. They also commented that it was potentially racist to assume this. They felt the bill was unnecessary because the state of Louisiana already has screening measures in place.
Sponsors of the bill had put up arguments that randomly screening welfare recipients would be applied toward breaking the addiction cycle. There were concerns earlier this year from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee that courts could possibly find that drug testing to these recipients would mandate to search and seizure without probable cause.
Drug use and abuse is all over our community and this testing is one of the ideas to help prevent addiction in our city and state. From there, the idea is that drug abusers could be identified and sent to
Baton Rouge drug rehab programs where they can receive help.
