Public Media from Michigan State University

Michigan welfare drug testing proposal debated

By AP

LANSING, MI –

A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Rick Snyder says it's too early to tell if Michigan will push to require drug tests for welfare recipients and applicants.

It's expected to be a hot topic in many states this year.

There would be some support for requiring a clean drug test as a condition of welfare cash assistance eligibility in the Republican-led Michigan Legislature. But supporters want to make sure the plan would survive a legal challenge.

A Michigan plan to drug test welfare recipients from roughly a decade ago was derailed by federal courts.

New legislation to require drug testing was introduced in the state House last month. A state department has said testing would be "feasible" and possibly could include a pilot program for suspicion-based drug testing.

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