Citations Affected: IC 12-7-2; IC 12-14.5; IC 31-33-8-0.5.
Synopsis: Drug testing of public assistance recipients. Requires the
office of the secretary of family and social services to develop and
establish a pilot program in three counties to test for the use of
controlled substances under certain conditions by an individual who:
(1) receives assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families program for the individual or on behalf of a child; and (2) is
at least 18 years of age. Requires the office of the secretary of family
and social services to notify the department of child services
(department) if a child is ineligible for assistance as a result of an
individual testing positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance.
Requires the department, not later than nine months after the date the
department receives the report, to conduct a home visit at the child's
residence to determine whether to pursue the report as a report of
suspected child abuse or neglect.
Effective: July 1, 2012.
January 9, 2012, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human
Affairs.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
human services.
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2012]: Sec. 190.2. "Tests negative" or
"testing negative", for purposes of IC 12-14.5, means that an
individual:
(1) tests negative for the use of a controlled substance (as
defined in section 43.3 of this chapter) in the individual's
body; or
(2) tests positive for the use of a controlled substance (as
defined in section 43.3 of this chapter) in the individual's body
but has:
(A) a valid prescription; or
(B) an order of a practitioner acting in the course of the
practitioner's professional practice;
for the controlled substance.
suspicion.
(G) An individual will be temporarily ineligible for TANF
assistance if the individual refuses to take a drug test under
this article.
Sec. 5. (a) A county office shall be considered to have reasonable
suspicion that an individual is engaged in the illegal use of a
controlled substance for purposes of section 2(a)(3) of this chapter
if one (1) or more of the following apply:
(1) The individual has been convicted of a crime.
(2) The individual has been charged with an offense under
IC 35-48 (controlled substances).
(3) The individual failed to attend a scheduled meeting or
complete online requirements regarding TANF assistance.
(b) A county office has reasonable suspicion to randomly
administer a drug test to an individual based on reasonable
suspicion as described in section 2(a)(4) of this chapter if an
individual has tested positive on a previous drug test administered
under this article.
(c) An employee of a county office may determine when
reasonable suspicion exists under section 2(a)(3) of this chapter
from other factors in addition to those listed under subsection (a).
(d) If an employee of a county office believes, based on
reasonable suspicion, that an individual is engaged in the illegal use
of a controlled substance, the employee shall document the factors
the employee believes establish reasonable suspicion before the
individual is tested under this article.
Sec. 6. The office of the secretary's records concerning the
results of a drug test under this article may not be admitted against
a defendant in a criminal proceeding.
Sec. 7. A county office shall provide a list of drug abuse
treatment programs to any individual who tests positive under this
article.
Sec. 8. The office of the secretary may adopt rules under
IC 4-22-2 necessary to implement this article.
Chapter 2. Penalties for Failing a Random Drug Test to Which
an Individual Has Consented
Sec. 1. (a) If, after an administrative hearing under IC 4-21.5, a
finding is made that an individual who consented to random drug
testing tests positive on a drug test, the county office shall:
(1) provide to the individual a list of drug abuse treatment
programs approved by the office of the secretary; and
(2) administer a drug test to the individual regularly at
intervals of at least twenty (20) days and not more than thirty
(30) days until the individual tests negative in two (2)
consecutive drug tests.
(b) If an individual does not test negative in two (2) consecutive
drug tests as described in subsection (a)(2) not later than four (4)
months after the date the county office begins testing the individual
regularly under subsection (a)(2), the following apply:
(1) The individual's failure to test negative establishes
reasonable suspicion that the individual is engaged in the
illegal use of a controlled substance.
(2) The individual is subject to random drug testing as
provided in IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(4).
(3) The county office shall administer a drug test to the
individual based on reasonable suspicion not later than thirty
(30) days after the date the individual last tested positive.
(4) The penalties under IC 12-14.5-3 apply to any drug test in
which the individual tests positive after reasonable suspicion
is established under subdivision (1).
(c) If an individual tests negative in two (2) consecutive drug
tests as described in subsection (a)(2) not later than four (4) months
after the date the county office begins testing the individual
regularly under subsection (a)(2), the individual:
(1) shall be returned to the pool of individuals who have
consented to random drug testing; and
(2) is subject to random drug testing as described in
IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(2).
Sec. 2. (a) If:
(1) an individual tested positive under a previous random
drug test to which an individual consented;
(2) an individual is subject to a second random drug test; and
(3) after an administrative hearing under IC 4-21.5, a finding
is made that the individual tests positive on the drug test
described under subdivision (2);
the individual is ineligible to receive TANF assistance for the
individual for three (3) months after the date of the finding.
(b) If an individual tests positive on two (2) separate drug tests
under subsection (a), the county office:
(1) has reasonable suspicion that the individual is engaged in
the illegal use of a controlled substance; and
(2) shall administer random drug testing to the individual
under IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(4).
Sec. 3. (a) If an individual who consented to random drug
testing refuses to take a drug test under this article, the individual
is ineligible for TANF assistance for the individual for three (3)
months after the date that the individual refuses to take the drug
test.
(b) An individual who is ineligible under section 2(b) of this
chapter or subsection (a) may reapply for TANF assistance after
the applicable three (3) month ineligibility period. Upon
reapplying, the individual must test negative on a drug test before
the individual may receive TANF assistance.
Chapter 3. Penalties for Failing a Drug Test Administered
Based on Reasonable Suspicion
Sec. 1. (a) If, after an administrative hearing under IC 4-21.5, a
finding is made that an individual tests positive on a drug test
administered based on reasonable suspicion as described in
IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(3) or IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(4):
(1) the individual is ineligible to receive TANF assistance for
the individual for six (6) months after the date of the finding;
and
(2) the child on whose behalf the individual receives TANF
assistance shall have that child's TANF assistance reduced by
fifty percent (50%) for six (6) months after the date of the
finding.
(b) If an individual refuses to take a drug test administered
based on reasonable suspicion as described in IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(3)
or IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(4):
(1) the individual is ineligible to receive TANF assistance for
six (6) months after the date that the individual refused to
take the drug test; and
(2) the child on whose behalf the individual receives TANF
assistance shall have that child's TANF assistance reduced by
fifty percent (50%) for six (6) months after the date of the
finding.
Sec. 2. (a) An individual who is ineligible under section 1 of this
chapter may reapply for TANF assistance after the applicable six
(6) month ineligibility period. Upon reapplying, the individual must
test negative on a drug test before the individual may receive
TANF assistance.
(b) If, after an administrative hearing under IC 4-21.5, a finding
is made that an individual described in subsection (a) tests positive
on the drug test administered for the TANF reapplication process:
(1) the individual is permanently ineligible to receive TANF
assistance for the individual; and
subsection (a)(4), the child on whose behalf the individual receives
TANF assistance is ineligible to receive TANF assistance for as
long as the child resides with the individual.
Chapter 6. Costs of Drug Testing
Sec. 1. (a) The office of the secretary shall pay for a drug test
administered under this article if the individual:
(1) consented to random drug testing;
(2) has not previously tested positive on a drug test
administered under this article; and
(3) tests negative on the drug test.
(b) An individual shall reimburse the office of the secretary if
the individual tests positive on a drug test paid for by the office of
the secretary under subsection (a).
(c) If an individual fails to reimburse the office of the secretary
for a drug test under subsection (b), the individual:
(1) is ineligible to receive TANF assistance; and
(2) a child on whose behalf the individual receives TANF
assistance is ineligible for TANF assistance for as long as the
child resides with the individual;
until the individual reimburses the office of the secretary for the
drug test.
(d) An individual shall be responsible for any costs of additional
drug testing required under this article as a result of the individual
testing positive on a random drug test to which the individual
consented.
Sec. 2. (a) An individual who:
(1) does not consent to random drug testing; and
(2) is tested under this chapter based upon reasonable
suspicion as described in IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(3) or
IC 12-14.5-1-2(a)(4);
shall pay the costs of the drug test.
(b) If an individual described under subsection (a) tests negative
for the use of a controlled substance, the office of the secretary
shall reimburse the individual for the cost of the drug test.