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Welfare recipients who fail a drug test and have kids will receive a visit from the state. The random tests begin July 1st. A rule being administered by the Department of Children and Families would require recipients who fail the test to be reported to the state’s child abuse hotline. As Whitney Ray tells us, a caseworker would then be sent to the welfare recipient’s home to offer help.

Random drug tests for welfare recipients who receive temporary cash assistance will begin July 1st. People who fail the tests and have kids will be reported to the state’s child abuse hotline. The Department of Children and Families will then send a caseworker to the house.

We spoke with DCF Spokesman Joe Follick on his cell phone. Follick says just because a welfare recipient is abusing drugs doesn’t mean they’re are abusing their kids.

Reporter: Is drug abuse or drug use a reasonable action to remove kids from their homes?
Follick: You can’t make that kind of statement because every family is unique.

Child Advocate and Director of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy Karen Woodall says the tests and home visits are more regulation than is needed. She fears people who fail the test because they are taking prescription medication could have a harder time with the state.

“Once you go down the path of referring people to child abuse hotlines if you don’t know for absolute certain that there’s a problem and that there’s abuse and there’s neglect, you’re opening up a whole can of worms,” said Woodall.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the random tests and follow up checks are a violation of the fourth amendment of the US constitution. The ACLU is watching the state’s actions and may file a lawsuit.

DCF says the purpose of the visit would be to offer assistance, but drug assistance programs funded with tax dollars would be off-limits, because the new law prohibits taxpayer help to welfare recipients that fail the drug test

Quick Facts

There are 93-thousand Floridians receiving temporary cash assistance.
The average recipient received 240 dollars a month.
DCF will randomly select 4-thousand recipients to test four times a year.
The tests cost about a hundred dollars a piece.
If the recipient passes the test, the state will reimburse the one hundred dollars.