HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 840        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 71

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

F. Jay Barrows

_________________

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.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

 

Stephen L. DiNatale

3rd Worcester

1/16/2013

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

 

Donald Humason

 

 

Peter J. Durant

6th Worcester

 

Keiko M. Orrall

12th Bristol

 

Randy Hunt

5th Barnstable

 

Geoff Diehl

7th Plymouth

 

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

 

Kimberly N. Ferguson

1st Worcester

 

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

 

Ryan C. Fattman

18th Worcester

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 840        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 71

By Mr. Barrows of Mansfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 71) 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. 974 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

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.