HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 457        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 69

 

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

1/13/2015

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

8/16/2019

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

8/16/2019

Keiko M. Orrall

12th Bristol

8/16/2019

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

28th Middlesex

8/16/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

8/16/2019

Jonathan D. Zlotnik

2nd Worcester

8/16/2019

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

8/16/2019

Leah Cole

12th Essex

8/16/2019

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

8/16/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 457        FILED ON: 1/13/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 69

By Mr. Barrows of Mansfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 69) 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.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

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.