In an ideal world, illicit drugs would not exist. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that drugs ruin lives and rip families apart on a daily basis.

In 1996, legislation was enacted by the federal government with the goal of moving families from government aid to financial assistance to financial independence. The measure known as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

While I agree with goal of this program, I think more needs to be done to ensure that public assistance is being properly used.  Specifically, those who receive public assistance should not be trading or selling their benefits for drugs.

Currently, legislation is being worked on to amend the Social Welfare Act to require the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish and administer a pilot program for suspicion-based drug testing for those who receive assistance from the department.

The yearlong pilot program includes measures to keep benefits in place for those who fail a drug test but enroll in a treatment program; requires DHS report their findings to the Legislature at the end of the pilot program; and protects dependent children by designating a payee to receive benefits on the child’s behalf (children should not be punished for action they have no control over).

Some of the factors DHS would have to report to the Legislature would be:

• The number of individuals screened;

• The number of individuals who consented and refused a substance abuse test;

• The number of individuals who tested positive or negative for a controlled substance; and

• The cost incurred by DHS

I could not be more supportive of this legislation. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that public assistance is temporary help, not a lifestyle. We also must ensure that public assistance is being used to put food on the table and provide the basic necessities of life.

Only time will tell if this pilot program is successful or not. And the definition of success will differ. However, if the pilot program can provide data-driven results proving it helped people get clean and ensured that legal adults who choose to do drugs do not receive public assistance, I will fight to see this program implemented statewide.

 

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents the 21st District, which includes Berrien and Cass counties and most of Van Buren County