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MS House passes welfare drug testing bill

After the Mississippi House Representatives debated for four hours about House Bill 49, the bill is finally making its way to the Senate. The House passed the bill 74 to 46. Supporters of the bill say it will help those dependent on drugs get the treatment they need.

One of those supporters, Representative Sam Mims, Chairman of the Public Health Committee, answered questions from his colleagues about the bill. The proposed legislation will require those people applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families answer a questionnaire then based on those questions undergo a drug test. The questionnaire caused some concerns.

“I’m talking about the screening instrument that we’re going to send to a 3rd party and allow them to develop the criteria and then to define reasonable likely hood and that’s the part that gives me a problem not the drug test,” said Representative David Baria.

Other representatives had concerns with the cost. The screening will cost $1.25 per test. The drug test is $50 and drug treatments are $25.00 per session.

“TANF funds will pay for the screen, said Mims. “The TANF funds will pay for the test and Medicare will pay for the