Georgia Welfare Drug Testing Law Signed By Governor Nathan Deal

ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation that would require thousands of people applying for welfare to pass a drug test before they could receive benefits.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law over the opposition of Democrats.

Backers say it will ensure that welfare benefits are used for their intended purpose and not to subsidize drug use and criminal activity. Democrats said the measure places an unfair burden on the poor.

Gerry Weber of the Southern Center for Human Rights said the organization is prepared to file a lawsuit over the issue, but not until it is put into practice. It takes effect July 1.

A similar law in Florida took effect last July but was blocked in October by a federal judge, who cited constitutional concerns.

At least two dozen states have proposed measures this year that would require drug tests for benefits.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[ZombieSM]

05:05 PM on 04/17/2012

Well if this is going to be the new norm I'd like to formally introduce a bill that will force all politicians local, county, state and federal to submit to drug testing, as well as blood testing for alcohol once they come back from their 1.5-3 hr afternoon " meetings."

[LuvsCheerios]

04:55 PM on 04/17/2012

If it is mandated then the testing cost is on the State???

[UAlreadyKnow]

01:39 PM on 04/19/2012

No. The recipients are required to pay for the tests themselves. They said that the average cost is around $17 per test.

[Brandon Stover]

08:38 PM on 04/19/2012

It cost the state when the recipients pass the test. The state reimburses the people who pass the tests. 98% of people pass the tests which is costing the state.

[JohnQpublic81]

04:13 PM on 04/17/2012

I've read the welfare drug testing law in Georgia and it will defiantly not save any money. Children will not be affected by this as the state will still pay out welfare benefits to their guardians. People who fail the drug tests can get right back on welfare in 4 weeks, (First offence) or 3 months, (subsequent offense). These tests and the frequency of them, will do nothing but reward drug testing facilities that contributed heavily to Governor Deal's campaign.

[Brenda Taylor Dalin]

01:40 PM on 04/17/2012

I am sure they are in bed with a drug testing company. The cost of testing and managing this process will be unreal. Where will the money come from? It won't be from Welfare savings that's for sure.

[ssb752]

01:35 PM on 04/17/2012

What's the name of this piece of legislation? The Testing Company Full Employment Act?

[BMcCue7]

01:22 PM on 04/17/2012

Because society's castoffs haven't been humiliated enough...

[glomtt]

01:10 PM on 04/17/2012

Pathetic!

[Dev Austin]

11:51 AM on 04/17/2012

Are we sure our elected officials are using their salaries for doing their jobs? I suspect some may be putting their salaries up their noses therefore should have to endure regular drug testing.

Fair is fair I always say.

[Toolmon]

10:05 AM on 04/17/2012

Excellent idea!
And should be adopted on a national level.

[3beanCrispy]

03:51 PM on 04/18/2012

then every state can line the pockets of the testing companies with taxpayers' money while spending more than they save. good call, we've got quite the budget surplus as a nation !
-sarcasm off-

[SitandStay]

09:36 AM on 04/17/2012

Lobbying Expenses Reported by Subsidiary Office of the Governor of Nathan Deal
Rubicon Advisors $131,250

[SitandStay]

09:20 AM on 04/17/2012

Georgia ranks 45th based on SAT scores
(source: http://gaeducation.blogspot.com/2008/08/2008-sat-results-released-georgia-ranks.html)

Georgia ranks 41st based on Morgan Quinto Smartest State (2006-2007)
(source: http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm)

Georgia ranks 47th based on Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate for Public High School Students
(source: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2007/section3/table.asp?tableID=701)

[Mr Attitude]

09:38 AM on 04/17/2012

And yet they want to have people drug tested. How about drug testing the legislators who have been steadily reducing Georgia's educational budget

[Lithcause-Voluntaryist]

09:17 AM on 04/17/2012

1) a penny saved is a penny earned. 2) demanding a drug test is as unconstitutional as the welfare program itself..please read the constitution before making such statements. 3) The requirements for "welfare" don't go far enough...those who receive it should be required to log in some sort of community service. This will help eliminate local gov't jobs and local contracts for cleaning streets, ext which will save tax payers money. Along with restoring and strengthening communinity connections. 4) get ready for austerity plans that are going to take away "give aways" that will hurt us all for the sake of our kids future 5) Those that support Progessive programs are parasites sucking the last bit of life out of republic, our values, our character... Hope you all have a great day finding ways to be miserable..I suggest actually doing somthing beneficial for your community in need..even if you are one of them. Also the one that needs the welfare will be paying for the test first... an here in atlanta i can see a lot of them failing the test, i believe the political people need the test as well...

[Karen Moen]

10:47 AM on 04/17/2012

I'm really curious if you even know the requirements for your states welfare recipients? Here in NC - you get 163.00 A MONTH for one child (yes you have to have CHILDREN to collect welfare), 221.00 for two children, etc. You have 5 total years to collect and must be on for 2 years off for 1 on for 1 off for 1...get it? That is unless you are a relative care giver who has taken a related foster child from a CPS removal from the original home. Do you think they should have to volunteer too? I mean they're saving the state $$ by preventing them from having to put these kids in foster care and we aren't giving them very much to do that. Some other requirements are that the adult attend workfirst sessions, apply for jobs and take classes - and these are required so if you don't have childcare you can't get welfare. The childcare $$ that you can get from the state to help you is so backed up with waitlists that it would take you 2-3 years to actually get it. So there you have welfare requirements for North Carolina. Please I will wait for you to post what the requirements for Georgia is....it will prob take you a while to look it up bc I'm betting you have no FREAKEN clue what they are.

[Lithcause-Voluntaryist]

04:30 PM on 04/17/2012

obveously you dont understand, i understand that people have hard times right now. there are requirements for getting assistance in GA but wheni see more of the people on welfare and using the ebt cards and driving in a lexus, having huge 58' flat screens ect, there is something wrong... if i have to go to take a drug test to go to work and make money and then the money that is taken out of my check to give to people that dont work then clearly they should have to be drug tested like myself to receive money... hey if you dont do the drugs then you have nothing to worry about, plain and simple! you cant sit there and tell me requirements that are needed to get it, that is not the point... they should make it to where the person thinks, dang i should do everything i can to get off welfare when put into that situation. but i see it too often here in GA or any state that what you said is just like saying "do you know the requirements for having a roof over your head, 3 good meals a day, a tv and plenty of entertainment, sport court yards, lifting weights, reading, all things included, and you never have to lift your finger for the rest of your life again."

[Lithcause-Voluntaryist]

04:31 PM on 04/17/2012

all you have to do is commit a few crimes and go to jail where we will steal peoples money so you can live free for the rest of your life and on societies money. hmmmm do you realize the same thing is happening in jail? there is most people in there that dont wanna leave because they have it made better in there then most do out here struggling, so to answer your question no i dont know the requirements, and i dont have to because i know the struggle and lived it and i am fed up my money being stolen from me and used for purposes i dont agree with. if society was a voluntary then those stuggling would rely on those close to their community and be helped in a much smaller case (such as a teacher for each student environment) and for those not showing the intrest to help themselves or their family would be eventually cut off ... of course they would still get help from charitible companies that have been donated money to help for that cause so they would not go without but it would be by the people for the people. not government forced and if i dont pay into it they put me in a cage. wake up you dont own anything of yours. you think you own your car or house after you pay it off???

[SitandStay]

09:15 AM on 04/17/2012

"The OCE also found that on his 2009 personal financial disclosure form Mr. Deal had declared $75,000 he received from the business first as dividends and later as partnership income, but had reported it as wages on his tax returns and had received a W-2 indicating the money was wages.

House rules limited outside earned income in 2008 to $25,830 and prohibit members of Congress from receiving any income while serving as a corporate officer. Falsifying information on personal financial disclosure forms is a felony punishable by up to five years in jail."

http://www.citizensforethics.org/index.php/press/entry/crew-files-doj-complaint-against-former-rep.-nathan-deal/

[Mr Attitude]

09:41 AM on 04/17/2012

And where is AJC's investigative report on this matter? You know you are in trouble when a sitting congressman leaves Congress while under an ethics investigation, moves back home, and then is elected Governor. This only happened b/c he is a repub and ethics dont matter.

[SitandStay]

09:55 AM on 04/17/2012

The AJC is finished......they couldn't report on anything of substance.

The paper just keeps it head in the sand and pays homage to it's meager advertisers. It had the worst coverage, as in NO coverage, of the Eastern Airlines raid by FRank L0renz0. It has just gone steadily down hill.

[SitandStay]

09:13 AM on 04/17/2012

Just another reason to legalize ...............................

[goldstock]

09:10 AM on 04/17/2012

Nothing like a good conservative taking steps to keep government off our backs and out of our lives.