House Bill 1291 Summary

• Requires adult applicants and recipients (age 18+) of state and federal public benefits to submit to random drug testing starting July 1, 2011, with testing performed at the Mississippi Crime Laboratory or approved facilities.

• Establishes ineligibility periods for positive drug tests: 90 days for first positive test, 180 days for second, and one year for third and subsequent positives (with required negative reentry test); refusal to test results in one-year ineligibility.

• Requires verification of lawful presence in the United States for all adult applicants and recipients of public benefits through affidavits and the SAVE program, with false statements constituting a misdemeanor.

• Applies requirements to Medicaid (Division of Medicaid), TANF (Department of Human Services), unemployment benefits (Office of Employment Security), and public housing assistance (Mississippi Housing Authorities).

• Exempts emergency medical care, disaster relief, immunizations, prenatal care, certain emergency services, and postsecondary education from drug testing and verification requirements.