House Bill 4090

House Bill 4091

Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer Faunce

Committee: Family and Children Services

Complete to 2-1-99

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4090 AND 4091 AS INTRODUCED 1-28-99

The bills would add new sections to the Social Welfare Act to require the Family Independence Agency (FIA) to notify the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) when an undocumented alien applied for assistance, and to allow the FIA to require substance abuse testing as a condition for benefit eligibility. The bills are tie-barred to each other.

House Bill 4090 (400.37a and 400.57l). In addition to requiring that the FIA notify the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) when an undocumented alien applied for family independence assistance, the bill would also specify that the FIA could require substance abuse testing as a condition for assistance, and, if an applicant tested positive, he or she would have to enroll in substance abuse treatment as a part of his or her social contract. However, before implementing substance abuse testing, the FIA would have to notify the Senate and House standing committees with jurisdiction over social welfare matters, and the Senate and House appropriations subcommittees that had jurisdiction over the FIA budget. In addition, if a substance abuse testing program was implemented, the FIA would be required to provide these committees with an annual report on the program, indicating the number of individuals tested, the substances tested for, the results of the testing, the number of referrals for treatment, the costs of testing and treatment, the sanctions that had been imposed, and the percentage and number of households receiving assistance that include an individual who had tested positive for substance abuse and that also include an individual who had been named as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect.

House Bill 4091 (MCL 400.57b). The bill would amend the act to specify that eligibility for family independence assistance would be subject to the drug testing provisions specified under House Bill 4090.

Analyst: R. Young

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.