Senate Bill 2059 Summary

• Requires adult applicants (age 18+) for state and federal public benefits to submit to drug screening and testing starting July 1, 2014, with exceptions for emergency medical care, disaster relief, immunizations, prenatal care, and certain community services.

• Establishes a tiered ineligibility system: first positive test results in 90-day benefit suspension, second positive results in 180-day suspension, and third or subsequent positive results in 1-year suspension requiring a negative retest to regain eligibility.

• Individuals who refuse drug screening or testing are ineligible for benefits for one year.

• Provides exceptions for individuals already in drug treatment programs or those with prescriptions for controlled substances, and allows 14-day appeal periods for positive test results.

• Amends sections governing Medicaid, TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), and Mississippi Housing Authorities to require drug screening and testing compliance as condition of benefits, contingent on federal waivers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.