Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 43 - PUBLIC WELFARE (§§ 43-1-1 — 43-NEW01-012) › Chapter 17 - TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (§§ 43-17-1 — 43-17-39) › Section 43-17-6 - Written screening questionnaire for certain adult applicants for TANF benefits; purpose; drug test; substance use disorder treatment plan; termination of cash assistance

(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Adult" means a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older.
(b)
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
(c)
"Drug" means a controlled substance, as defined in Section
41-29-105
, for which a person does not have a valid prescription.
(d)
"Drug test" means a chemical test administered for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a drug or metabolites in a person's body fluids.
(2)
Adult applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits in the assistance unit who otherwise qualify for cash assistance under the TANF program shall be required to complete a written screening questionnaire designed to determine the likelihood of the person having a substance use disorder.
(3)
If the results of the written screening questionnaire indicate a reasonable likelihood that an adult recipient may have a substance use disorder involving the misuse of a drug, the department shall require the person to submit to a drug test at the department's expense in order to continue to receive cash assistance under the TANF program.
(4)
If an adult recipient refuses to take the required drug test, the department shall terminate cash assistance for the person and the person may not reapply for cash assistance for:
(a)
Ninety (90) days after a first refusal to take a drug test within one (1) year; or
(b)
One (1) year after a second refusal to take a drug test within one (1) year.
(5)
A drug test shall be administered with due regard to the privacy and dignity of the person being tested.
(6)
Before taking a drug test, an adult recipient may advise the person administering the test regarding any prescription or over-the-counter medication that the person is taking.
(7)
The result of a drug test is a private record and disclosure to a third party is prohibited.
(8)
If an adult recipient tests negative for the unlawful use of a drug after taking a drug test, the person remains eligible for cash assistance, subject to the other TANF eligibility requirements.
(9)
If an adult recipient tests positive for the unlawful use of a drug after taking a drug test, the person:
(a)
Shall be given a list of approved substance use disorder treatment providers that are available in the area in which the person resides; and
(b)
May continue to receive benefits if the person enters into and follows the requirements of a substance use disorder treatment plan, including:
(i)
Receiving treatment from an approved substance use disorder treatment provider for at least sixty (60) days;
(ii)
Testing negative for the unlawful use of a drug:
1.
In each later drug test required by department rule during treatment; and
2.
In an additional drug test given at the conclusion of treatment; and
(iii)
Meeting the other TANF requirements for receiving cash assistance.
(10)
If an adult recipient declines to enter into a substance use disorder treatment plan, or if the recipient enters into but fails to meet a requirement of a substance use disorder treatment plan, including if the person refuses to take a drug test required by a substance use disorder treatment plan or tests positive for the unlawful use of a drug in a drug test required by a substance use disorder treatment plan, the department shall terminate cash assistance for the person and the person may not reapply for cash assistance for:
(a)
Ninety (90) days after the day on which the department determines that the person is no longer eligible for cash assistance; or
(b)
One (1) year after the day on which the department determines that the person is no longer eligible for cash assistance, if the department has previously determined on at least one (1) other occasion in the past year that the person is no longer eligible for cash assistance.
Added by Laws, 2014, ch. 430, HB 49, 1, eff. 7/1/2014.