Indiana welfare recipients could get drug tested if law passes

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Some people receiving welfare in Indiana could be drug tested and possibly lose their federal funding.

The Indiana House passed  HB1483 Monday. It requires everyone receiving cash assistance from the government to take a written test to determine substance abuse.

The bill now moves to the Indiana Senate for consideration.

If the results determine a person has a high probability of abuse, he or she will be placed in a pool where the state is required to test 50 percent of people.

If that person tests positive, they will be given a list of of treatment options from the state. If they don't get treatment, they and any children they have lose their benefits for three months. Those who fail the drug test  but agree to get treatment will then be tested monthly. People must test negative on two consecutive drug tests in the span of four months.

Lawmakers in favor of the bill said it is a way for taxpayers to hold people responsible for their tax dollars.

"It's a good public policy for those who are taking government money to be held accountable for the use of that money," said Rep. Matt Lehman, R- District 79.

However, those opposed to the bill said it doesn't provide the necessary resources for people who are addicts to get help.

"These people need to have the means to get that treatment and have it done correctly, have the assessments done correctly, have the intervention done correctly," said Stephen Jarrell, the president of the Indiana Family Service Council.

There are also concerns that this bill does not provide the proper provisions for children to continue receiving aid if their guardian loses benefits. Lawmakers opposed to the bill also said it has the potential to tear families apart without providing accessible ways for people to receive treatment while lawmakers in favor said it will benefit children because their guardians will be possibly be getting help.

The program will cost $1.2 million to implement it in the first year.