CBS Atlanta 46Hearing for bill requiring drug testing for welfare recipients

A state senator has introduced a tough and controversial bill that would require people applying for welfare to take drug tests as a requirement for receiving benefits.

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Monday afternoon held a hearing on Senate Bill 292, the Social Responsibility and Accountability Act. The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, would require people applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to take drug tests before receiving benefits.

Albers said his bill would ensure that welfare recipients are not squandering taxpayer dollars by abusing illegal drugs. "We want to make sure they're following the law," Albers said. "We should have a level playing field and assure we're being socially responsible and accountable to everyone. Our goal is to get people clean and healthy and back into society."

Critics said the measure is an unfair intrusion that violates constitutional rights. 

Neil Kaltenecker, executive director with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, said the bill unfairly penalizes the poor and incorrectly assumes people going through tough economic times abuse drugs at higher rates than others.  

"You're taking one section of the population and saying you use drugs. We don't have evidence of that," Kaltenecker said. "We absolutely think it's a constitutionality issue."

CBS Atlanta asked Kaltenecker, why shouldn't people applying for welfare be subject to drug tests?  Kaltenecker responded, "What's the evidence that people who receive these benefits use drugs at a higher rate than anybody else? It has been deemed unconstitutional on circuit court and it's being contested in their current circuit court."

Albers said he hoped to get the bill to the Senate floor for a vote later this week.

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