Unemployment Drug Tests

Legislators are considering reversing a law aimed at ending unemployment benefits for drug users....  More »

Legislators are considering reversing a law aimed at ending unemployment benefits for drug users. The republican-backed law has drawn criticism from the ACLU and most recently, the Department of Workforce Developement which handles the distribution of benefits. A spokesperson for the State's Work Force Development has not received a single request to deny benefits to a prospective employee for failing a drug test, meaning the law could be repealed before it's ever even used to deny benefits. The unemployed who receive benefits are required to look for a job at least twice a week. Brandy Patske says a law set to go into effect January first denying benefits based on failing a drug screen is a bad idea. "I don't really think that has anything to do with it, unless they have a history or if it involves their work." Republicans back denying unemployment benefits for anyone who refuses to take or fails a drug test while they are drawing unemployment insurance. The problem with the law has been enforcing it and now another bill is before the state Senate seeking to reverse the requirement and end the program before it officially begins. Al Yarbrough supports drug testing for benefits saying there are too many people who rely on unemployment and have no Drive to get a job. "There's enough situations that allow people to get high, people don't need another excuse to get high." The bill before the senate would not only reverse the drug testing provision, but it would also crack down on those who commit fraud, adding more than $300,000 in new penalties. Proponents of the new bill include aid to ensure drug users can get help with their addiction instead of being cut off from State benefits. The bill did not make it to a vote today but republican senator van weingard of racine says he expects a vote to come within About a week.  « Less