HB369 Alabama 2018 Session

Under existing law, there is a requirement, effective until September 30, 2017, that persons applying for or receiving public assistance benefits may be tested for illegal substance abuse

Existing law does not require adult recipients of public benefits offered by the state to comply with mandatory community service program requirements in order to be eligible for the benefits

This bill would require each adult recipient of public benefits offered by the state to comply with mandatory community service program requirements in order to be eligible for the benefits

This bill would provide that any person who does not comply shall be ineligible to receive public assistance for a specified period of time based on the frequency of noncompliance

This bill would provide procedures and exceptions for mandatory community service programs to be developed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources

This bill would require an applicant for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), administered by the Department of Human Resources, beginning October 1, 2018, to be tested for substance abuse if the applicant has been convicted of a drug offense

This bill would provide that any applicant testing positive for a drug without a valid prescription would be ineligible for TANF temporary cash assistance benefits under the program

This bill would authorize a parent of a minor child who tests positive for drugs to designate a third party to receive the public assistance for the benefit of minor child family members

This bill would require each department or agency of the state that provides public assistance to adults to comply with mandatory community service requirements pursuant to this act

This bill would also authorize the Department of Human Resources to promulgate rules to implement the program

Relating to public assistance, to require each adult recipient of public benefits to comply with mandatory community service program requirements in order to be eligible; to provide that any person who does not comply shall be ineligible to receive public assistance for a specified period of time based on the frequency of noncompliance; to provide procedures and exceptions for such mandatory community service programs to be developed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources; to require each department or agency that provides public assistance to adults to comply with mandatory community service as required under this act; to require an applicant for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), administered by the Department of Human Resources, if the applicant has been convicted of a drug offense; to provide that any applicant testing positive for a drug without a valid prescription would be ineligible for TANF temporary cash assistance benefits under the program; to authorize a parent of a minor child who tests positive for drugs to designate a third party to receive the public assistance for the benefit of minor child family members; and to authorize the Department of Human Resources to promulgate rules to implement the program.