SNAP Testing

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, April 18, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. A week into the session Representative Greg Morris introduced H.B. 772 to tighten up requirements for receiving food stamps. It went through 14 stages of the legislative system and was voted on eight times before it finally passed. In his press release Representative Morris called his bill “common sense legislation,” and said, “Hard working Georgians expect their tax dollars to be used responsibly and efficiently, and under no circumstance should the government fund someone’s drug habit.”

That was January 22nd, when the bill began its convoluted trip through committee substitutes written in both House and Senate and further amendments in the floor debate. The Senate tabled it for two days then, took it off the table to pass the last day of the session.

So, effective January 1, 2016 food stamp cards will include a picture of at least one household member authorized to receive food stamps, and adult applicants must pass a drug test administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services. Applicants on Medicaid will pay only $17 for the test, but food stamp recipients that do not qualify for Medicaid will be charged the full cost of their test. Suspicion of drug use will be sufficient to prompt a drug test, and applicants that pass the test will be reimbursed with food stamps that were withheld during the testing process.The tests won’t be a surprise, since applicants will be fore-warned that drug testing will be required for adults, but not for dependent children under 18. Whether the tests are positive or negative, under age children will not be deprived of food stamps. When the adult recipient tests positive, an immediate family member may be designated to receive stamps for the minor children, but the alternate family member will have to pass a drug test, also.

Failing a drug test the first time means a month without food stamps that will not be reinstated until a subsequent test is passed. A second test failure means no food stamps for three months and until they pass the test. For a third failed test, no food stamps for a year and no reinstatement until after a drug test is passed. Test results will be kept private, then destroyed and deleted after five years. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.