MO HB1880

Department of Social Services shall screen TANF applicants and recipients for illegal drug use based on reasonable cause, using a urine dipstick five panel test.

Applicants or recipients who test positive for unprescribed controlled substances or refuse testing may request an administrative hearing and shall be ineligible for TANF benefits for three years unless they complete a substance abuse treatment program and remain drug-free for six months.

Applicants or recipients may continue receiving benefits while participating in court-ordered treatment programs and may be tested randomly or at set intervals thereafter.

Case workers must report to the children's division suspected child abuse resulting from drug abuse when an applicant or recipient tests positive or refuses testing.

Other household members remain eligible to receive TANF benefits as protective or vendor payments to a third-party payee when one member is declared ineligible under this section.