HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1637 FILED ON: 1/20/2011
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 974
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
F. Jay Barrows
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to public assistance substance screening.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
F. Jay Barrows | 1st Bristol | 2/14/2011 |
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. | 20th Middlesex | 2/3/2011 |
Steven L. Levy | 4th Middlesex | 1/22/2011 |
Shaunna O'Connell | 3rd Bristol | 2/1/2011 |
Elizabeth A. Poirier | 14th Bristol | 2/3/2011 |
Stephen R. Canessa | 12th Bristol | 2/2/2011 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1637 FILED ON: 1/20/2011
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 974
By Mr. Barrows of Mansfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 974) of F. Jay Barrows and others for legislation to establish a substance screening program within the Department of Transitional Assistance. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 121 OF 2009-2010.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven
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An Act relative to public assistance substance screening.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1: The Department of Transitional Assistance shall establish a program for random drug testing persons receiving public assistance, not inclusive to food stamps. This program shall be applied only to individual(s) who hold prior convictions on any drug related charge. This includes but is not limited to drug possession and intent to distribute.
Section 2: The Department of Transitional Assistance shall provide suitable remedies to individuals with positive drug tests. The department shall also develop strategies to help ensure that participants receiving transitional assistance are drug-free. Individuals who do not comply with the rehabilitation recommendations set forth by the department of transitional assistance may face a suspension of their benefits.
Section 3: The Department of Transitional Assistance shall collect, record, and publish statistics relating to those individuals who collect public assistance and test positive for substances for which they do not have a prescription.