Drug Testing and Assistance Programs – Tennessee

Tennessee lawmakers approve welfare drug testing on last day, By Chas Sisk, May 1, 2012, The Tennessean: “State lawmakers approved a bill to test welfare recipients for drugs and revamped the state’s top utility regulator, but they dropped plans to rewrite the state’s campaign finance laws on the final day of the legislative session. Members of the state House of Representatives voted 73-17 Tuesday for Senate Bill 2580, which calls for testing welfare recipients who fail a psychiatric screening meant to find indicators of drug use. Proponents said the bill will keep Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds from going to drug users and help them get treatment. Opponents said it punishes the poor. ‘What we’re going to do is profile poor people,’ said state Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis. The measure, which cleared the Senate last month and now goes to Gov. Bill Haslam for his signature, was one of several issues resolved as lawmakers finished work for 2012. Both chambers adjourned until after the November election. With the welfare bill, Tennessee would be set to join a growing list of states that have adopted drug testing for recipients…”