A sign in a market window advertises the acceptance of food stamps in New York City on Oct. 7, 2010. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Bill That Would Require Drug Tests for Some Food Stamp Recipients Introduced

A bill that would require drug tests for some Alabama food stamp recipients was introduced to the state House of Representatives on March 5.

Under existing law, no food stamp applicants are required to be tested for illegal substances, nor are current recipients required to be tested to stay on the program, known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

“This bill would require an applicant for SNAP benefits to be tested for substance abuse if there is reasonable suspicion that the person who uses or is under the influence of a drug,” according to a synopsis of the bill, HB 3.

That includes the person having a conviction for the use or distribution of a drug without a prescription within five years of applying for SNAP benefits and testing positive for drugs in a prior test.

If the applicant or recipient fails a drug test twice without a valid prescription, that person would be ineligible for food stamps.

If the person failing testing twice was a parent of a dependent child, that parent could designate a third party to receive the benefits for the dependent child.

The Department of Human Resources would pay for the initial drug test but any subsequent drug screening would be paid for by the person being screened. If they test negative, the department would reimburse them.

Anyone who refused to undergo a drug screening or delayed it beyond a time set by the department would not be eligible for SNAP.

The bill was introduced by its sponsor, state Rep. James Hanes, a Republican, on Tuesday and referred to the House’s Judiciary Committee.

“It’s time to eliminate food stamp fraud,” Hanes previously told WAAY. “In order to better provide for families who are in need, this issue must be addressed. We owe it to the working-class taxpayers to make this program as efficient and waste-free as possible.”