Proposal to test welfare recipients for drugs in doubt

The future of a proposal to drug test Indiana welfare recipients is in doubt after the provision's author formally withdrew his support and the state agency that would administer the program estimated it would cost $2.3 million over the next two years.

Rep. Terry Goodin, the Democrat from Crothersville who unexpectedly proposed adding the provision to a social services bill last week, said Tuesday that he was withdrawing his support after learning how few people who would be tested.

Instead, he asked the original authors of Senate Bill 465 to create a study committee to examine how to best combat drug abuse.

Those authors — Sen. Pat Miller, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany — now plan to discuss the issue with their fellow Republican lawmakers in private caucus meetings.

But both lawmakers said they thought a study of the idea was the right move, especially given its hefty price tag.

An estimate from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration set the cost of the program at $2.3 million over two years, and that's after taking into account $213,000 in anticipated savings assuming that 5 percent of those tested fail and are temporarily removed from the program.

Goodin said he proposed the program to help stem an HIV outbreak in rural Scott County, which he represents. More than 130 people have been infected as a result of needle sharing among drug abusers, according to health officials.

But Goodin said earlier this week he was reconsidering the idea after The Indianapolis Star told him that only nine adults in Scott County received welfare payments.

Statewide, only about 9,400 adults receive payments or accept them on behalf of children. About 17,000 children receive the benefit.

The proposal would require drug testing for some people receiving cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Recipients who are identified on a written or electronic screening test as "high risk" for drug abuse, or those who have been charged with a drug-related crime in the past, would be tested.

Food stamp and Medicaid recipients are not included under the proposal.

If TANF recipients fail a drug test, they would have an opportunity to receive counseling. But if they continue to fail drug screenings after counseling, they would be ineligible for welfare benefits for at least three months. Recipients would be responsible for the cost of counseling and positive drug tests.

The drug testing proposal could accelerate an already steep decline in the number of Indiana TANF recipients. Average payments are less than $90 a month per recipient.

Supporters of such drug testing measures say they help prevent public assistance from being spent on illegal drugs and help addicts find treatment.

Opponents say it unfairly targets poor people and that similar programs in other states have proved costly and ineffective.

Indiana is one of at least 15 states to consider drug testing or screening for public assistance this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Twelve states already have such requirements

Similar measures have been proposed in Indiana in the past. The most recent failed on a tie vote in the Senate last year.

Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.