Drug Policy Legislation

SB 69 – Public Assistance Drug Testing (2011-2012)

Link to Bill:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_SB_69
Status:
Failed
Summary:

SB 69 stipulates that adults who apply for need-based public assistance must submit to a urine drug test as a condition of eligibility. Individuals who do not undergo the drug test or do not pass the drug test are ineligible for aid for 30 days.

Primary Sponsors:
Secondary Sponsors:
Committee:
Health and Aging (H)
LSC Legislation Status:
http://lsc.state.oh.us/coderev/sen129.nsf/Senate+Bill+Number/0069?OpenDocument
Jurisdiction/Legislation Level:
State
Our take on this bill:

SB 69 is an intrusive and inefficient expansion of law that subjects all adults applying for many state assistance programs to drug testing. This raises significant constitutional concerns about privacy, as well as questions about the advantage of a policy that has been shown to be ineffective in other states, like Florida.