| Updated: 2/22 5:13 pm |
Published: 2/21 9:44 pm
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House Bill 2388 would apply to close to 41,000 Oklahomans who get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money.
The system works like an ATM card: money is loaded on it each month for people to withdraw, but if this bill goes through recipients who fail a drug test wouldn't be allowed to get welfare money for 12 months.
House Bill 2388 is one step closer to lawmakers making drug tests for welfare recipients a reality after a vote Monday passed an Oklahoma House of Representatives sub-committee.
“I think it's a good idea to make sure everybody is straight,” Tulsan Ashley Knox told FOX23.
“I am definitely supportive of the government assisting the individuals who need it, but I think for those who would be abusing the funds is not acceptable,” Amanda Holegrove said Tuesday.
The Oklahoma bill is modeled after one that's been on the books in Florida for about eight months. Some wonder if the measure is approved here, could Oklahoma be in line to save a lot of money?
The simple answer is that it will depend on how many welfare recipients fail their drug test. Taxpayers pay for the test, as long as the person passes.
“Well, we're paying for welfare anyway,” Betty Jainson said.
“I'd rather pay the money keep the wrong people out of the system than just it go as it is,” Amley Floyd told FOX23.
According to a study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to test every one of Oklahoma’s more than 40,000 welfare recipients at $49 a drug test would come out to about $2.2 million.
If someone fails the test, they lose out on about $2,000 a year in state benefits. The more people who fail, the better for the state's bottom line, but in Florida ... the failure rate hasn't been as high as some would think. The Tampa Tribune reported it was about two percent in the program's first month in the Sunshine State.
Oklahoma and Florida aren't the only states debating this idea; more than 30 states have proposed some similar measure.
House Bill 2388 would not affect a child's eligibility for the program if a parent tested positive for illegal drugs.
