I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1277 
To amend title III of the Social Security Act to require States to implement 
a drug testing program for applicants for and recipients of unemployment 
compensation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 20, 2013 
Mr. PEARCE (for himself, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. COT-
TON, and Mr. JORDAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend title III of the Social Security Act to require 
States to implement a drug testing program for appli-
cants for and recipients of unemployment compensation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Accountability in Un-
employment Act of 2013’’. 
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SEC. 2. DRUG TESTING PROGRAM FOR APPLICANTS FOR 
AND RECIPIENTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT COM-
PENSATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(l) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 503)(l)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(l)(1) For purposes of subsection (a), the law of a 
State shall provide that no regular compensation may be 
paid to an individual unless— 
‘‘(A) the individual is tested for the use of the 
drugs listed in paragraph (3)(A)— 
‘‘(i) if the individual has applied for such 
compensation and the application has not been 
approved, before the receipt of such compensa-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) in any other case, before the end of 
the 3-month period that begins on the date of 
the enactment of this subsection; and 
‘‘(B) the individual tests negative for the use of 
such drugs or, in the case of an individual who tests 
positive for the use of such drugs, the individual 
meets the requirements of paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if 
an individual tests positive pursuant to paragraph (1) for 
the use of any drug listed in paragraph (3)(A), no regular 
compensation may be paid to the individual unless— 
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‘‘(ix) 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine. 
‘‘(B) A positive test for a drug listed in subparagraph 
(A) shall be treated as a negative test for purposes of this 
subsection if such drug was used pursuant to a valid pre-
scription or as otherwise authorized by law. 
‘‘(4) The State shall require each individual who is 
tested pursuant to paragraph (1) to pay the portion of 
the cost of the drug testing that pertains to such indi-
vidual. If such individual tests negative for the use of each 
drug listed in paragraph (3)(A) and the State provides 
regular compensation to the individual, the State shall in-
crease the first payment of such compensation in an 
amount equal to the amount paid by the individual under 
this paragraph for the drug testing. 
‘‘(5) In this subsection, the term ‘regular compensa-
tion’ has the meaning given such term in section 205 of 
the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation 
Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
this section shall take effect 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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