Ensuring Quality in the Unemployment Insurance Program (EQUIP) Act

To amend title III of the Social Security Act to permit States to conduct substance abuse risk assessments and targeted drug testing as a condition for the receipt of unemployment benefits, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Quality in the Unemployment Insurance Program (EQUIP) Act 2. Drug screening made a condition of benefit receipt (a) In general Section 303(l) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 503(l) (l) (1) Nothing in this Act or any other provision of Federal law shall be considered to prevent a State from enacting legislation to provide for testing an applicant for unemployment compensation for the unlawful use of controlled substances as a condition for receiving such compensation, including legislation that provides for the following procedures: (A) No regular compensation may be paid to an applicant for such compensation with respect to a benefit year unless, before the receipt of any such compensation— (i) the applicant has completed a substance abuse risk assessment for such benefit year; and (ii) subject to subparagraph (B), if the State determines based on the results of such assessment that the applicant is a high-risk applicant, not later than 1 week after the results of the assessment are determined, the applicant tests negative for controlled substances. (B) If a high-risk applicant tests positive for any controlled substance— (i) if such test result is the first positive test result for such applicant in the benefit year— (I) no regular compensation may be paid to such applicant for a period of 30 days beginning on the date that such test result is determined; and (II) no regular compensation may be paid to such applicant during the remainder of such benefit year unless the applicant tests negative for controlled substances at the end of such period; (ii) if such test result is not the first positive test result for such applicant in the benefit year, no regular compensation may be paid to such applicant during the remainder of such benefit year. (C) A high-risk applicant receiving benefits with respect to a benefit year shall be subject to testing for controlled substances by the State at any time during the benefit year, with limited notice provided to the applicant of such testing. (D) A high-risk applicant who is tested for controlled substances under— (i) subparagraph (A) or (C) shall be responsible for the cost of such test if the individual tests positive for any such substance; and (ii) subparagraph (B)(i)(II) shall be responsible for the cost of such test. (2) For purposes of this subsection— (A) the term benefit year (B) the term controlled substance (i) means a drug or other substance selected by the State to be included in drug testing under this subsection; and (ii) does not include any drug or other substance used by the applicant pursuant to a valid prescription or as otherwise authorized by law; (C) the term high-risk applicant (D) the term substance abuse risk assessment . (b) No merit staffing requirements Section 303(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(1) (c) Funding for substance abuse testing (1) Funding from IPAB Section 1899A(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395kkk(m) (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking to the Board to carry for the purposes of carrying out section 303(l), and, if any funds remain in the fiscal year involved, for the Board for the purpose of carrying (B) by striking paragraph (2). (2) Funding from the CO-OP program Section 1322(g) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18042(g) to carry out this section to carry out section 303(l) of the Social Security Act, to the extent funds are necessary to carry out such section after the application of section 1899A(m)(1) of such Act

Summary: Ensuring Quality in the Unemployment Insurance Program (EQUIP) Act This bill allows states to enact unemployment compensation laws that require an applicant for unemployment compensation, before receiving any such compensation, to (1) complete a substance abuse risk assessment, and (2) test negative for controlled substances within one week after the results of such assessment if determined to be high-risk. It prescribes retesting requirements and payment suspensions for applicants who test positive.