Today, I signed HB 353, keeping my promise to require drug screening for welfare recipients.
The bill is designed to increase personal accountability and prevent Florida’s tax dollars from subsidizing drug addiction, while still providing for needy children. Parents failing the required drug test may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of the children.
While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction. This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars.
I do receive SNAP benefits and I for one am VERY happy to see this happen. I will gladly take the test and pass it with ease. In my eyes, if you can figure out where to get money for drugs then you can figure out where to get money for food. I do have a question concerning this though. As we know there are going to be a lot of parents out there that do NOT pass this test. what happens to the children of these parents? Will there be action against the parents or will it be they just lose their help? Is there a place / website to read what was signed? Thanks Gov. Scott.. I must admit that I haven’t been a huge “fan” but, this is definitely a move in the right direction. Way to go!!
Another campaign promise kept. Keep up the great work Gov Scott!
I am thoroughly impressed with the actions you are taking to reform the welfare system, as the welfare system consumes a huge majority of our tax dollars. I’d like to add 2 more actions you can take. Revoking the right to take cash back on ebt transactions, also requiring ID and/or putting photo of recipient on the card itself to prevent additional fraud. It has come to my attention, some welfare recipients, through here-say, have been selling their ebt cards for cash to others with no repercussions for fraud. Also, retailers should be held accountable for selling restricted items and allowing recipients to use their ebt cards for those items. By implementing these other tools, many of our tax dollars will be saved to go toward education and other programs that benefit our communities.
Well said, agree 100%
I agree with HB 353 and very happy for this law. If individuals looking and applying for work are subject to drug screening tests as a basis for acquiring employment, the same rules should apply for those individuals requesting governmental assistance. I also believe that government need to place stricter rules when it comes to assistance per household. For instance, many families that are generation welfare recipients continue procreating in order to receive additional funds from government. Never working or attempting to improve their circumstances; learned helplessness. I am of the opinion that government should assist with the first 2 children at most up to a certain age, and after that the parent needs to be responsible for working and providing for their family. Of course this is on a case by case basis as some parents are incapable of working due to disability etc. Assistance is to aide in passing not a lifestyle. Many hardworking citizens never receive aide even when needed because they are self sufficient and if they do, it is received on a temporary basis. Therefore, any assistance provided needs to be better regulated and have some limits to control abuse.
Typical liberals blindly believing whatever the media tells them to believe. Yes, they will have to fork over the money to pay for the test, but as long as they test negative they get that money right back through their benefits check. Also, anyone stop to think that maybe solantic is charging less than other companies to process these tests?
The kids weren’t getting the benefits anyway if the parents are using drugs. I’d much rather have a responsible, sober guardian take care of them than trust a drug user to take free money and use it to take care of his or her children