House Bill 387 Summary

• Recipients of public assistance benefits aged 18 and older must take drug tests annually and randomly to maintain eligibility for TANF, Medicaid, and other state-funded economic assistance programs.

• Refusal to take a required drug test results in benefit termination for 30 days after a first refusal or 6 months after a second refusal within one year; individuals may reapply and receive benefits again if they pass a drug test.

• Positive drug test results (for drugs without valid prescriptions or with dosage exceeding prescribed amounts) result in benefit termination for 90 days on first occurrence or one year on subsequent occurrences; individuals may reapply after the period expires and must pass another drug test.

• Drug tests are administered by the State Department of Health at the recipient's expense; if the recipient tests negative, the administering agency must reimburse the test cost in cash or increase the next month's benefits by that amount.

• Existing provisions in Section 43-17-6 requiring TANF recipients to undergo drug testing and substance abuse disorder treatment are repealed and replaced with the new requirements in this act, effective July 1, 2017.