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Committee changes plan to random testing for welfare recipients

A Senate committee is supporting a bill that would require all people who receive welfare benefits to submit to drug tests. 

Casper Senator Charles Scott says the committee amended the bill to conduct random drug testing to determine if there is truly a drug use problem within the welfare program.

“Between now and July of next year we will get a sample of 100 of those people tested to see if we really have a drug problem in our welfare population.”

Scott says he supports the bill because he is concerned that some children’s lives could be negatively impacted by parents who use drugs.  If a parent does test positive, he says the Department of Family Services can take action to protect children.

But Linda Burt of the A-C-L-U continues to say that the bill is unconstitutional. 

It now heads to the Senate floor.

Bob Beck retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as News Director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years. During his time as News Director WPR has won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.