Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act

Bill: 119-hr-372
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Introduced: 2025-01-13
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Food assistance and relief

Intergovernmental relations

Low- and moderate-income housing

Poverty and welfare assistance

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires states participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and specified public housing programs&nbsp;to subject&nbsp;applicants to substance&nbsp;abuse testing or screening and to deny benefits for individuals who test positive for a controlled substance.</p><p>Specifically, states administering these programs must determine whether an adult applicant for benefits has been arrested for a drug-related offense within the past five years. Applicants who have been arrested for such an offense must be tested for at least one controlled substance and must test negative to receive benefits. Applicants who have not been arrested for such an offense must be screened (via an interview, questionnaire, or other instrument) for risk of substance abuse. Applicants determined to be at high risk for substance abuse must be tested for at least one controlled substance and&nbsp;must test negative to receive benefits.&nbsp;Applicants who are determined not to be at high&nbsp;risk&nbsp;do not have to undergo testing.&nbsp;</p><p>Applicants who test positive for a controlled substance at any point during this process are&nbsp;ineligible for benefits for one year, until&nbsp;they complete a treatment program, or until they test negative for the substance, whichever is later.&nbsp;</p><p>Family members and households of individuals disqualified from receiving benefits under these provisions may generally continue to receive support.</p><p>States that fail to enforce these provisions are subject to reduced federal funding for these&nbsp;programs the following fiscal year.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 372 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2025 Mr. Rouzer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture , and Financial Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require certain welfare programs to deny benefits to persons who fail a drug test, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act . 2. Drug screening and testing under State programs for temporary assistance for needy families (a) Prohibition Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 608(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (13) No assistance for individuals who fail drug screening or testing or are not screened or tested for drug use (A) In General A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance for an individual who has attained 18 years of age, unless, before receipt of the assistance— (i) the State makes a determination, in a manner the State considers appropriate, of whether the individual has or has not been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made; (ii) in the case of an individual who is determined by the State to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in clause (i), the individual tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State determines to be appropriate; and (iii) in the case of an individual who is determined by the State not to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in clause (i), the individual— (I) completes substance abuse screening in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate; and (II) (aa) is determined pursuant to such screening not to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance; or (bb) is determined pursuant to such screening to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance and tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State determines to be appropriate. (B) Effect of failing drug test In the case of an individual who tests positive for a controlled substance pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) or (A)(iii)(II)(bb), a State shall not provide assistance under the State program funded under this part for the individual for a period beginning on the date on which the State determines that the test result is positive and ending on the latest of— (i) the date that is 12 months after the date on which the State determines that the test result is positive; (ii) the date on which the individual successfully completes a treatment program for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive; or (iii) the date on which the individual tests negative for each such controlled substance, in such manner and at such times as the State determines to be appropriate. (C) Responsibility for testing and screening (i) Manner and time A State may provide for testing and screening pursuant to paragraph (1), and retesting and rescreening pursuant to paragraph (2), in such manner and at such times as the State agency considers appropriate. (ii) Costs A State may not require an individual to pay the cost of testing or screening conducted pursuant to this paragraph. (D) No effect on assistance for other family members The amount of assistance payable for a family member of an individual for whom assistance is denied pursuant to this paragraph shall not be affected by the denial. (E) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Controlled substance The term controlled substance means, with respect to an individual, any controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 802 ) that is not used by such individual pursuant to a valid prescription or as otherwise authorized by law. (ii) Drug-related offense The term drug-related offense means any criminal offense under State or Federal law relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use, of a controlled substance. (iii) Substance abuse screening The term substance abuse screening means an interview, questionnaire, or other screening instrument approved by the State, that is designed to be used to determine whether an individual has a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance. . (b) Penalty (1) In General Section 409(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 609(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (17) Failure to condition receipt of benefits on passing drug testing or screening If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has substantially failed to comply with section 408(a)(13) during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403 for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to 15 percent of the State family assistance grant. . (2) Inapplicability of good cause exception Section 409(b)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 609(b)(2) ) is amended by striking or (13) and inserting (13), or (17) . (3) Inapplicability of corrective compliance plan requirement Section 409(c)(4) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 609(c) ) is amended by striking or (16) and inserting (16), or (17) . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month that begins after the 240-day period that begins with the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Drug screening and testing under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) Drug testing and screening required for eligibility Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015 ) is amended by adding at end the following: (t) Eligibility based on required drug testing and screening (1) In general An individual who has attained 18 years of age and who is otherwise eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program as a member of a household shall be eligible to participate in such program only if before such assistance is provided with respect to such individual— (A) the State determines, in a manner the State considers appropriate, whether such individual has or has not been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period ending on the date on which the determination is made; (B) in the case of an individual who is determined by the State to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during such 5-year period, such individual tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate; and (C) in the case of an individual who is determined by the State not to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during such 5-year period, such individual— (i) completes substance abuse screening, in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate; and (ii) (I) is determined pursuant to such screening not to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance; or (II) is determined pursuant to such screening to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance and tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate. (2) Effect of a positive drug test result If an individual tests positive for a controlled substance pursuant to paragraph (1), such assistance may not be provided with respect to such individual for a period beginning on the date on which the State agency determines that the test result is positive and ending on the latest of— (A) the date that is 1 year after the date on which the State agency determines that the test result is positive; (B) the date on which such individual successfully completes a treatment program for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive pursuant to paragraph (1); and (C) the date by which the test result for such individual is not positive for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive pursuant to paragraph (1). (3) Responsibility for testing and screening (A) The State agency may provide for testing and screening pursuant to paragraph (1), and retesting and rescreening pursuant to paragraph (2), in such manner and at such times as the State agency considers appropriate. (B) The State agency may not require an individual or a household to pay the cost of a test or screening conducted pursuant to this subsection. (4) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (A) Controlled substance The term controlled substance means a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 802 ) that is not used by the tested individual pursuant to a valid prescription or as otherwise authorized by law. (B) Drug-related offense The term drug-related offense means any criminal offense under State or Federal law relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use, of a controlled substance. (C) Substance abuse screening The term substance abuse screening means an interview, questionnaire, or other screening instrument approved by the State, that is designed to be used to determine whether an individual has a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance. . (b) Reduction of reimbursement for administrative costs Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2025 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a) by striking subsection (k) and inserting subsections (k) and (l) , and (2) by adding at end the following: (l) Failure To enforce drug testing and screening requirements If the Secretary determines that the State agency failed substantially to enforce the eligibility requirement established in section 6(t) in a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce by 15 percent the amount otherwise payable under subsection (a) to such State agency for the immediately succeeding fiscal year. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Drug screening and testing under public housing and section 8 rental assistance programs (a) Prohibition Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 1436a ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Prohibition of housing assistance for individuals who fail drug screening or testing or are not screened or tested (1) In General Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the applicable administrative entity may not make covered housing assistance available for the benefit of any individual who has attained 18 years of age, unless, before such assistance is provided with respect to such individual— (A) the applicable administrative entity makes a determination, in a manner the entity considers appropriate, of whether the individual has or has not been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made; (B) in the case of an individual who is determined by the applicable administrative entity to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in subparagraph (A), the individual tests negative for each controlled substance that the entity has determined to be appropriate for testing; and (C) in the case of an individual who is determined by the applicable administrative entity not to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in clause (i), the individual— (i) completes substance abuse screening in such manner and at such times as the entity considers appropriate; and (ii) (I) is determined pursuant to such screening not to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance; or (II) is determined pursuant to such screening to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance and tests negative for each controlled substance that the entity has determined to be appropriate for testing. The applicable administrative entity shall determine that not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the entity, is appropriate for testing for purposes of this paragraph. (2) Effect of failing drug test If an individual tests positive for a controlled substance pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) or (1)(C)(ii)(II), covered housing assistance may not be provided with respect to such individual for the period beginning on the date on which the applicable administrative entity determines that the test result is positive and ending on the latest of— (A) the date that is 12 months after the date on which the applicable administrative entity determines that the test result is positive; (B) the date on which the individual successfully completes a treatment program for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive; and (C) the date on which the individual tests negative for each such controlled substance, in such manner and at such times as the applicable administrative entity determines to be appropriate. (3) Responsibility for testing and screening (A) Manner and time An applicable administrative entity may provide for testing and screening pursuant to paragraph (1), and retesting and rescreening pursuant to paragraph (2), in such manner and at such times as the entity determines to be appropriate. (B) Costs An applicable administrative entity may not require an individual or family to pay the cost of a test or screening conducted pursuant to this subsection. (4) Proration of financial assistance If an individual for whose benefit covered housing assistance is prohibited pursuant to this subsection is a member of family that includes at least one other member whose eligibility under this subsection for such assistance has been affirmatively established pursuant to testing under this subsection, covered housing assistance made available to such family shall be prorated, based on the number of individuals in the family for whom eligibility under this subsection for such assistance has been affirmatively established pursuant to testing under this subsection as compared with the total number of individuals who are members of the family. (5) Failure to enforce drug testing requirement If the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines that a public housing agency has substantially failed to comply with this subsection during a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce by 15 percent the amount otherwise provided to the agency, for the immediately succeeding fiscal year, under each of the following programs: (A) The public housing Capital Fund program under section 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(d) ). (B) The public housing Operating Fund program under section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(e) ). (C) All programs for rental housing assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ). (6) Use of housing assistance amounts for testing Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts made available under the following provisions of law may be used for costs of testing individuals for controlled substances for purposes of compliance with this section, as follows: (A) Amounts made available under the public housing Operating Fund program under section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(e) ) may be used for such testing for residents of, and applicants for residency in, public housing. (B) Amounts made available to a public housing agency for administrative fees under section 8(q) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(q) ) may be used for such testing for individuals on behalf of whom rental assistance under such section is provided by the agency and applicants for such assistance. (C) Amounts made available for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ) may be used for such testing for residents of, and applicants for residency in, dwelling units in housing projects for which such assistance is provided. (7) Definitions For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions shall apply: (A) Applicable administrative entity The term applicable administrative entity means— (i) a public housing agency, with respect to covered housing assistance administered by such agency; and (ii) the Secretary, with respect to project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ). (B) Controlled substance The term controlled substance means, with respect to an individual, a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 802 ) that is not used by such individual pursuant to a valid prescription or as otherwise authorized by law. (C) Covered housing assistance The term covered housing assistance means financial assistance made available pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ). (D) Drug-related offense The term drug-related offense means any criminal offense under State or Federal law relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use, of a controlled substance. (E) Substance abuse screening The term substance abuse screening means an interview, questionnaire, or other screening instrument approved by the applicable administrative entity that is designed to be used to determine whether an individual has a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance. (8) Other provisions of law This subsection may not be construed to affect the applicability of any provision of section 576 or 577 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 ( 42 U.S.C. 13661 , 13662) or of section 6(l), 8(o)(7), or 16(f) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437n(f) ), except that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall ensure that any standards or lease provisions established pursuant to such sections are consistent with this subsection. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month that begins after the expiration of the 240-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.