SF 1506

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 01/27/2012 09:34am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; requiring drug screening as a condition of public
assistance eligibility; modifying requirements for the public assistance electronic
benefit transfer card; amending Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section
256.987, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 256.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [256.9795] DRUG SCREENING FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin (a) To be eligible for public assistance under chapters 256, 256B, 256D, 256J, and
256L, and child care programs under chapter 119B, an applicant must undergo drug
screening, to the extent practicable, following the established procedures and reliability
safeguards provided for screening in sections 181.951, 181.953, and 181.954. A county
agency may require a recipient of public assistance benefits to undergo random drug
screening. An applicant must provide evidence of a negative test result to the appropriate
county agency prior to being approved for public assistance benefits.
new text end

new text begin (b) A laboratory must report to the appropriate county agency any positive test result
returned on an applicant or recipient of public assistance benefits. Upon receipt of a
positive test result, a county agency must deny or discontinue benefits until the applicant
or recipient demonstrates a pattern of negative test results that satisfies the agency that the
person is no longer a drug user.
new text end

new text begin (c) An applicant or recipient of public assistance shall pay for the full cost of each
screening. If the applicant or recipient tests negative, the commissioner of human services
shall either increase the amount of the public assistance benefit by or reimburse the
individual for the amount paid by the individual for the drug screening.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 256.987, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Photo on card required. new text end

new text begin EBT debit cards issued after July 1, 2012,
must include a photo of the cardholder on the EBT debit card. The commissioner shall
implement a plan to convert all other active EBT debit cards to include a photo of the
cardholder by July 1, 2013.
new text end