HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2015 (14) Resolution No. 14 (2015)
RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSED 2015-2017 STATE
ST R01,r: QNTY BUDGET BILL REQUIRING DRUG TESTING OF ADULTS
WITHOUT CHILDREN WHO ARE RECEIVING FOODSHARE
AND/OR BADGERCARE PLUS
1 WHEREAS, drug screening and testing adults without children who are receiving
2 FoodShare is discriminatory and targets a subset of vulnerable people with no just cause; and
3
4 WHEREAS, drug screening and testing of adults without children as a condition of
5 eligibility for BadgerCare Plus is discriminatory and targets a subset of vulnerable people with
6 no just cause; and
7
8 WHEREAS, drug screening and testing adults without children who are receiving
9 FoodShare and/or BadgerCare Plus would be an additional burden to a population already facing
10 hardships and may cause individuals to go without food or effective health care coverage; and
11
12 WHEREAS, it is unknown if State funding will be available for follow up treatment if
13 recipients of FoodShare and/or BadgerCare Plus do test positive for drugs and the cost of
14 treatment could shift back to St. Croix County; and
15
16 WHEREAS, in Saint Croix County, there are approximately 839 adults without children
17 who could be required to participate in drug testing at an average costs of$55 per test; and
18
19 WHEREAS, there is no identified money in the proposed 2015-17 State budget allocated
20 to cover the estimated $46,145 (839x $55.00) to cover the cost of annual testing; and
21
22 WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Counties Association regional legislative meeting summary
23 indicates no details are available regarding administration this proposal; and
24
25 WHEREAS, the Health and Human Services Board opposes the proposal to drug screen
26 and test adults without children receiving FoodShare and/or BadgerCare Plus.
27
28 THEREFORE, be it resolved that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors is opposed
29 to requiring drug screening and testing of adults without children who are receiving FoodShare
30 and/or BadgerCare Plus.
31
32 FURTHER be it resolved that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors directs the
33 county clerk to forward this resolution to the governor, assembly members and senators
34 representing St. Croix County and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Legal—Fiscal—Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note:
Fiscal Impact: There is no identified money in the proposed 2015-17 State budget allocated to
cover the estimated $46,145(839x$55.00)to cover the cost of annual testing,
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04/14/15 Adopted
04/14/15 Health & Human Services Board APPROVED
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Next: 5/5/2015 7:00 PM
MOVER: Ron Kiesler, Supervisor
SECONDER: Howard Novotny, Supervisor
AYES: Babbitt, Logelin, Novotny, Kiesler, Anderson, Leibfried, Ramsay, Rasmussen
Vote Confirmation.
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St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call -Vote Requirement—
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
RESULT: ADOPTED [16 TO 3]
MOVER: Christopher Babbitt, Supervisor
SECONDER: Travis Schachtner, Supervisor
AYES: Schachtner, Ring, Babbitt, Novotny, Sjoberg, Nelson, Berke, Ostness, Larson,
Hansen, Kiesler, Peterson, Anderson, Achterhof, Leibfried, Peavey
NAYS: Stephen Nielsen, Chris Kilber, Andy Brinkman
This Resolution was Adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on May 5, 2015
Cindy Campbell, County Clerk
INFORMATION SHEET
The Governor's proposed 2015-17 State Budget there is language that would require adults
without children (able bodied adults without dependents) to submit to drug testing prior to
receiving FoodShare (Food Stamps) or Badger Care. There are numerous unknown details
regarding funding and program implementation at this time.
The Department of Human Services estimates the cost for testing for Saint Croix County would
be $46,145 annual cost. This is a very conservative estimate based on our knowledge of the
proposal. The annual cost was derived by using the current average cost of administering a
urinalysis test. The Department currently serves 839 individuals in the adults without children
category. It is unknown:
• How often recipients will need to be tested.
• What type of substance the test is aimed to detect (depending on the range of
substances the cost of the test would increase).
• What the sanction would be if receipt fail the test.
• If the State will dictate what type of test needs to be administered.
• If local providers have the capacity to serve this need.
The proposed budget offers treatment to those individuals who test positive for drug use. The
type of treatment, the duration of treatment and who is responsible for payment is not
articulated in the proposal.
The concept of drug testing individuals for public assistance programming has been introduced
in numerous states with mixed results. The following website offers information on the
particular state and the results of implementing (or attempts to implement) such laws or
policies. http://www.ncsl.®r /research/human-services/drub-testing-and-public-assistance.aspx
Quick facts from that website reveal:
• As of February 2015, at least 12 states have proposed legislation requiring some form of
drug testing or screening for public assistance recipients. The states include:
Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Fontana, New fork, Oregon,
South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. Hawaii's proposal is for the state to study the
issue.
• Florida's law was halted by a district judge. The District Court issued a final judgment in
December 2013 that permanently stropped enforcement of the law saying it violated
constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. On December 2, 2014, the
11`" U.S. Circuit Court ofAppeals upheld the ruling.
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Tennessee's bill required the development of a plan of suspicion-based testing with a
report to the legislature by January 2014. The state began a testing program in July
2014.
Current State of Wisconsin policy mandates counties pursue drug testing on adult FoodShare
members who received a drug felony within five years of FoodShare application.
FoodShare at the Federal Level is called the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP). |tisa federal program administered locally by states. Therefore any change or
modification would require a waiver from the Federal Government.