Bill Text: VA SB721 | 2013 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

Virginia Senate Bill 721 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: VIEW; substance abuse screening and assessment of public assistance applicants and recipients.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-02-04 - Read third time and defeated by Senate (19-Y 20-N) [SB721 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2013-SB721-Comm_Sub.html

13104703D
SENATE BILL NO. 721 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance on January 29, 2013) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Carrico) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 63.2-608.1, relating to eligibility for the Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare program; screening for use of illegal substances.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 63.2-608.1 as follows:

§63.2-608.1. Eligibility for VIEW; screening for use of illegal substances.

As a condition of participation in VIEW, the local director shall screen each participant to determine whether probable cause exists to believe such participant is engaged in the use of illegal substances. Such screening shall utilize a screening instrument approved by the Department. Screenings shall be performed by a representative of the local department of social services at the time of the initial VIEW assessment and periodically thereafter but not more frequently than every six months. If a screening indicates that there is reason to believe that the VIEW participant is engaged in the use of illegal substances, the Department shall require drug testing, to be performed by a company competitively procured by the Department to provide drug testing services on a statewide basis.

Any person who fails or refuses to participate in a screening without good cause or who tests positive for the use of illegal substances shall be ineligible to receive TANF payments pursuant to this chapter, unless he enters into and maintains full compliance with a drug treatment program. Other members of a household that includes a person who has failed or refused to participate in a screening or who has tested positive for the use of illegal substances shall, if otherwise eligible, receive TANF payments pursuant to this chapter as protective or vendor payments to a third-party payee for the benefit of the members of the household.

Persons deemed ineligible for TANF assistance due to failure of or refusal to participate in a screening, or for testing positive for the use of illegal substances, shall be ineligible to receive TANF benefits for a period of 12 months; however, an individual shall have one opportunity to comply with the screening or treatment requirements and be reinstated to eligibility for TANF benefits during the 12-month period following the date of his failure of or refusal to participate in a screening or testing positive for the use of illegal substances. In all other instances, a person may reapply for assistance after 12 months have elapsed from the date of initial ineligibility.

2. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless an appropriation of general funds effectuating the purposes of this act is included in a general appropriation act passed by the 2013 Session of the General Assembly, which becomes law.