THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY EVERETT, REED, ADOLPH, AUMENT, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, BOYD, CAUSER, CLYMER, D. COSTA, COX, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, CUTLER, DAY, DEASY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, ELLIS, EVANKOVICH, FARRY, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KRIEGER, KULA, LAWRENCE, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MASSER, METCALFE, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PEIFER, PERRY, PETRARCA, PICKETT, PYLE, QUIGLEY, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SIMMONS, K. SMITH, SONNEY, STEPHENS, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOEPEL, TOOHIL, VULAKOVICH AND DELOZIER, APRIL 6, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 6, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An

act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public

welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,

providing for eligibility for persons with drug-related

felonies.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known

as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to

read:

Section 432.23.  Eligibility for Persons with Drug-related

Felonies.--(a)  To the extent permitted by Federal law, a person

who is otherwise eligible to receive public assistance shall not

be denied assistance solely because he has been convicted of a

felony drug offense, provided: 

(1)  He is complying with or has already complied with the

obligations imposed by the criminal court.

(2)  He is actively engaged in or has completed a court-

ordered substance abuse treatment program and participates in

periodic drug screenings for five years after the drug-related

conviction or for the duration of probation, whichever is of

longer duration.

(b)  Under the screening for the drug test and retest program

the department shall:

(1)  Require a recipient be scheduled to be tested if he has

either a felony conviction for a drug offense which occurred

within five years or a felony conviction for a drug offense for

which he is presently on probation:

(i)  An individual who is applying for public assistance is

required to be tested and shall be tested at the time the

application for public assistance is made.

(ii)  A recipient already receiving public assistance as of

the effective date of this section shall be scheduled to be

tested in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2)  Develop and implement a system for randomly testing no

less than 20% of the individuals receiving public assistance

benefits during each six-month period following the effective

date of this section who are subject to testing for the presence

of illegal drugs under this section.

(3)  Deny public assistance to an individual who refuses to

take the drug test or the drug retest required by this section

and terminate the public assistance benefits for anyone who

refuses to submit to the random drug test required by this

section.

(c)  An individual who takes the drug test or retest and

fails it shall be subject to the following sanctions:

(1)  For failing a drug test or retest the first time, the

public assistance to which the individual is entitled shall be

suspended for six months. The department must notify the

individual of the failed drug test no later than seven days

after receipt of the drug test results, and the suspension in

public assistance will begin on the next scheduled distribution

of public assistance and for every other distribution of public

assistance until the suspension period lapses. After suspension,

an individual may apply for public assistance, but shall submit

to a retest.

(2)  For failing a drug test or retest the second time, the

public assistance to which the individual is entitled shall be

suspended for twelve months. The department must notify the

individual of the failed drug test no later than seven days

after receipt of the drug test results, and the suspension in

public assistance shall begin on the next scheduled distribution

of public assistance and for every other distribution of public

assistance until the suspension period lapses. After suspension,

an individual may then reapply for public assistance, but shall

submit to a retest.

(3)  For failing a drug test or retest the third time, the

individual shall no longer be entitled to public assistance.

(d)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to render

applicants or recipients who fail a drug test or drug retest

ineligible for:

(1)  a Commonwealth program that pays the costs for

participating in a drug treatment program;

(2)  a medical assistance program; or

(3)  another benefit not included within the definition of

public assistance as defined under this act.

(e)  As used in this section, the following words and phrases

shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless

the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Drug offense" means an offense resulting in a conviction for

the possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance,

or conspiracy to commit the offense, whether the offense

occurred in this Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction.

"Drug test" means a urinalysis, blood test or another

scientific study of an individual's body which has been

conclusively found to detect the presence or prior use of an

illegal drug or substance and for which the accuracy has been

accepted in the scientific community.

"Public assistance" means Temporary Assistance to Needy

Families (TANF), Federal food stamps, general assistance and

State supplemental assistance.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.