H.R. 372

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require certain welfare programs to deny benefits to persons who fail a drug test, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 13, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Rouzer

Table of contents

• H.R. 372
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Drug screening and testing under State programs for temporary assistance for needy families
  • SEC. 3. Drug screening and testing under the supplemental nutrition assistance program
  • SEC. 4. Drug screening and testing under public housing and section 8 rental assistance programs

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act.

SEC. 2. Drug screening and testing under State programs for temporary assistance for needy families

• (a) Prohibition
  • Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 608(a)
    • (13) No assistance for individuals who fail drug screening or testing or are not screened or tested for drug use
      • (A) In General
        • A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance for an individual who has attained 18 years of age, unless, before receipt of the assistance—
          • (i) the State makes a determination, in a manner the State considers appropriate, of whether the individual has or has not been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made;
          • (ii) in the case of an individual who is determined by the State to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in clause (i), the individual tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State determines to be appropriate; and
          • (iii) in the case of an individual who is determined by the State not to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in clause (i), the individual—
          • completes substance abuse screening in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate; and
          • is determined pursuant to such screening not to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance; or
          • is determined pursuant to such screening to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance and tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State determines to be appropriate.
      • (B) Effect of failing drug test
        • In the case of an individual who tests positive for a controlled substance pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii) or (A)(iii)(II)(bb), a State shall not provide assistance under the State program funded under this part for the individual for a period beginning on the date on which the State determines that the test result is positive and ending on the latest of—
          • (i) the date that is 12 months after the date on which the State determines that the test result is positive;
          • (ii) the date on which the individual successfully completes a treatment program for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive; or
          • (iii) the date on which the individual tests negative for each such controlled substance, in such manner and at such times as the State determines to be appropriate.
      • (C) Responsibility for testing and screening
        • (i) A State may provide for testing and screening pursuant to paragraph (1), and retesting and rescreening pursuant to paragraph (2), in such manner and at such times as the State agency considers appropriate.
        • (ii) A State may not require an individual to pay the cost of testing or screening conducted pursuant to this paragraph.
      • (D) No effect on assistance for other family members
        • The amount of assistance payable for a family member of an individual for whom assistance is denied pursuant to this paragraph shall not be affected by the denial.
      • (E) Definitions
        • In this paragraph:
          • (i) The term controlled substance means, with respect to an individual, any controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act () that is not used by such individual pursuant to a valid prescription or as otherwise authorized by law. 21 U.S.C. 802
          • (ii) The term drug-related offense means any criminal offense under State or Federal law relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use, of a controlled substance.
          • (iii) The term substance abuse screening means an interview, questionnaire, or other screening instrument approved by the State, that is designed to be used to determine whether an individual has a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance.
• (b) Penalty
  • (1) In General
    • Section 409(a) of such Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 609(a)
      • (17) Failure to condition receipt of benefits on passing drug testing or screening
        • If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has substantially failed to comply with section 408(a)(13) during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403 for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to 15 percent of the State family assistance grant.
  • (2) Inapplicability of good cause exception
    • Section 409(b)(2) of such Act () is amended by striking or (13)and inserting (13), or (17). 42 U.S.C. 609(b)(2)
  • (3) Inapplicability of corrective compliance plan requirement
    • Section 409(c)(4) of such Act () is amended by striking or (16)and inserting (16), or (17). 42 U.S.C. 609(c)
• (c) Effective date
  • The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month that begins after the 240-day period that begins with the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. Drug screening and testing under the supplemental nutrition assistance program

• (a) Drug testing and screening required for eligibility
  • Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended by adding at end the following: 7 U.S.C. 2015
    • (t) Eligibility based on required drug testing and screening
      • (1) In general
        • An individual who has attained 18 years of age and who is otherwise eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program as a member of a household shall be eligible to participate in such program only if before such assistance is provided with respect to such individual—
          • the State determines, in a manner the State considers appropriate, whether such individual has or has not been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period ending on the date on which the determination is made;
          • in the case of an individual who is determined by the State to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during such 5-year period, such individual tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate; and
          • in the case of an individual who is determined by the State not to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during such 5-year period, such individual—
            • (i) completes substance abuse screening, in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate; and
          • (ii)
            • is determined pursuant to such screening not to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance; or
            • is determined pursuant to such screening to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance and tests negative for not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the State, in such manner and at such times as the State considers appropriate.
      • (2) Effect of a positive drug test result
        • If an individual tests positive for a controlled substance pursuant to paragraph (1), such assistance may not be provided with respect to such individual for a period beginning on the date on which the State agency determines that the test result is positive and ending on the latest of—
          • the date that is 1 year after the date on which the State agency determines that the test result is positive;
          • the date on which such individual successfully completes a treatment program for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive pursuant to paragraph (1); and
          • the date by which the test result for such individual is not positive for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive pursuant to paragraph (1).
      • (3) Responsibility for testing and screening
        • The State agency may provide for testing and screening pursuant to paragraph (1), and retesting and rescreening pursuant to paragraph (2), in such manner and at such times as the State agency considers appropriate.

SEC. 4. Drug screening and testing under public housing and section 8 rental assistance programs

• (a) Prohibition
  • Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 1436a
    • (j) Prohibition of housing assistance for individuals who fail drug screening or testing or are not screened or tested
      • (1) In General
        • Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the applicable administrative entity may not make covered housing assistance available for the benefit of any individual who has attained 18 years of age, unless, before such assistance is provided with respect to such individual—
          • the applicable administrative entity makes a determination, in a manner the entity considers appropriate, of whether the individual has or has not been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the determination is made;
          • in the case of an individual who is determined by the applicable administrative entity to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in subparagraph (A), the individual tests negative for each controlled substance that the entity has determined to be appropriate for testing; and
          • in the case of an individual who is determined by the applicable administrative entity not to have been arrested for a drug-related offense during the 5-year period provided in clause (i), the individual—
            • (i) completes substance abuse screening in such manner and at such times as the entity considers appropriate; and
          • (ii)
            • is determined pursuant to such screening not to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance; or
            • is determined pursuant to such screening to have a high risk of abuse of a controlled substance and tests negative for each controlled substance that the entity has determined to be appropriate for testing.
        • The applicable administrative entity shall determine that not less than 1 controlled substance, as specified by the entity, is appropriate for testing for purposes of this paragraph.
      • (2) Effect of failing drug test
        • If an individual tests positive for a controlled substance pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) or (1)(C)(ii)(II), covered housing assistance may not be provided with respect to such individual for the period beginning on the date on which the applicable administrative entity determines that the test result is positive and ending on the latest of—
          • the date that is 12 months after the date on which the applicable administrative entity determines that the test result is positive;
          • the date on which the individual successfully completes a treatment program for each controlled substance for which the individual tested positive; and
          • the date on which the individual tests negative for each such controlled substance, in such manner and at such times as the applicable administrative entity determines to be appropriate.