No Public Assistance for Drug Users and Non-Citizens Measure
Any Mississippi citizen age fourteen (14) and above filing for or currently receiving state public assistance, including but not limited to Welfare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, WIC, Public Housing, CHIPS, etc., shall be required to pass a minimum of one (1) random, annual drug screening, either in the form of a urine test, or the most economically and technologically advanced method available. The drug screen will be a standard 5-panel test that includes adulterant testing and medical review officer conformation. Donor selection shall be done at random with no prior notice given.
This screening also applies to those receiving state compensation in the form of a contract, sub-contract or employee status, as well as those hired by contract or sub-contract agreements.
Failure to pass said drug screening shall result in six (6) random drug screens over a one year period. Automatic cessation of benefits shall commence immediately upon failure of a second drug screening.
Additional drug screening shall be imposed if activities or behaviors warrant, as deemed by a chancery court judge, law enforcement officer or case manager. This program shall be self-funded by the benefits and salaries of the recipients of the public assistance and state contracts.
Every person enrolled and receiving the aforementioned benefits shall be subjected to drug screenings within sixty (60) days of the passage of this initiative or lose their benefits and anyone who is not already receiving benefits at the time of the passage of this initiative, but who subsequently applies for and is awarded said benefits, shall first be required to pass a drug screen as part of their application process before their benefits may be awarded. The Mississippi Department of Human Services shall be the designated state agency responsible for overseeing said drug screenings required by this initiative.
The State shall contract with local drug screening companies on a bid basis to accomplish the drug screenings required by this initiative. The Mississippi Department of Human Services will be the lead agency responsible for implementing these initiative changes.
Upon filing for benefits and at the time of drug screening, a birth certificate and picture I.D. shall be produced to prove citizenship in accordance with the laws governing U.S. citizenship.
No public assistance or State salary of any kind shall be received by anyone either residing the state illegally or not in full compliance with the federal and state laws governing legal citizenship and residents, i.e. with a worker/student VISA.
This amendment recognizes that public assistance is a privilege and not a right.
Summary: This amendment will prevent non-citizens and those on drugs from receiving state public assistance.
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