CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that would drug test some welfare check recipients cleared its first hurdle in the state Senate Tuesday when it passed the Senate’s health committee.
The measure lays out a plan for testing those in which there is a “reasonable suspicion” of drug use. The pilot project would cover three counties.
Sen. Chris Walters (R-Putnam) said the testing is a no-brainer.
“We have the highest drug overdose death per population of any state in the nation. West Virginia has the highest rate of babies born addicted to drugs of any state in the nation population percentage wise,” he said.
But Sen. Corey Palumbo (D-Kanawha) pointed to the number of states where similar drug testing hasn’t been that successful.
“When you talk about 16,000 people tested in Tennessee and roughly 60 who were either positive or refused the test. I think that’s about a third of a percent,” he said. “That’s an incredible amount of wasted money, time and effort and not to mention what that does to people you are accusing of that.”
The pilot program is projected to cost about $1.3 million in its first year.
The bill now heads on to the Senate Judiciary Committee.