...A proposed law in several states that impacts the delivery of human services is requiring mandatory drug testing to be done for those who receive welfare from the government. States have proposed drug testing of applicants and recipients of public welfare benefits since federal welfare reform in 1996. It began to pick up speed in 2011. At least 18 states introduced proposals or had carryover bills that would require drug screening or testing for public assistance applicants and/or recipients in 2014.This has actually passed in some states, but it has been difficult for some to pass this. Unsurprisingly, there is an outrage by those who receive welfare. There are those that say that if you can be drug tested for a job, you should for welfare because you are still receiving money, like you would in a job. I think that the most reliable resource available to learn more about the implications of this law would be by reading the proposed legislation. Being aware of what is being done and said will highly help. Just standing on the sidelines and not actually acting is what can make the effects worse by doing nothing. Also, by having a meeting or some type of communication between the head of the organization and the senator that is proposing this legislation to help clarify any issues and even help to improve on the legislation that is being proposed. Other reliable resources could be other agencies that have dealt with similar laws in their areas, and how they coped with implementing...
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...Should Drug Testing be Mandatory to Receive Welfare Benefits? BCOM/275 Should Drug Testing be Mandatory to Receive Welfare Benefits? Thanks to our ancestors, America is a country built from a foundation of hard work and perseverance. This pioneering spirit has paved the way for many opportunities, as well as rules to be set along the way. This includes mandating laws and acts starting with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. With these guidelines America humbly started as a nation where every citizen was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These laws stressed the simplest of privileges which included freedom of religion, freedom of speech, protection against enemies, and restriction against monopolies (America's Freedom Documents, 1996-2011). These were all expressions of the American mindset long ago. Fast forward to current America and we find problems we must confront now that are more complicated. These problems have evolved through history that has now made our present day precedence in relation to laws and rules. We now have the freedom to vote, be active in our government, and have an opinion. Our opinions are shaped by the physical world around us and the controversy we have created as a people. However, The United States as an ideal presents a uniquely contradictory set of principles that is generally not openly discussed. This includes the tendency to accept government officials, network...
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...'welfare queen' New laws to make welfare claimants pay for drug tests cruelly exploit the resentments of struggling middle-class Americans Florida Governor Rick Scott is poised to fulfill a "top priority" campaign pledge and sign legislation requiring the state's approximately 58,000 welfare recipients to pay for their own random drug tests. The fiscal hawk and governor was once the head of Columbia/HCA, which perpetrated the biggest Medicare fraud in US history, and he opposed the creation of a database to track heavy prescription narcotics like Oxycontin because it would be an "invasion of privacy". This in Florida, our nation's undisputed capital of illegal prescription drugs, where dope is slung out of strip mall "pill mills". But I digress – and it's only the second paragraph. "If you go apply for a job today, you are generally going to be drug-tested," Governor Scott told Central Florida News 13 in October 2010. "The people that are working are paying the taxes for people on welfare. Shouldn't the welfare people be held to the same standard?" Thirty states took up bills to mandate drug testing for "the welfare people" during the 2011 legislative session, which is now in most states drawing to a merciful close: legislators were otherwise busy restricting abortion, worker and immigrant rights, while liberalising the right to bear arms on college campuses and destroy the environment; Florida and Texas have passed legislation making it harder for people to vote. Democratic Missouri...
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...States today is whether people receiving welfare benefits should undergo drug testing to qualify. Critics argue that it is discrimination and unconstitutional, but it is requiring no more than almost any job that you apply for that requires you to pass a drug test in order to qualify for that job and benefits. As of now, the only thing that you must show in order to qualify for government assistance is that you are below the income requirements. I think that this encourages more citizens to not work, have children, and live off of the working citizens in America. I think that initial and random drug testing should be mandatory in all states for anyone who is applying for or currently receiving welfare benefits. This would ensure that precious taxpayer dollars are going to those truly in need. Right now only 3 out of the 50 states require drug testing to qualify for benefits. There are 23 other states that are seeking to adopt this same requirement (Alcindor). Of the three states that currently require testing, Florida is the only state that has practiced this for every applicant. As a result of the legislation that took effect of July 1st, people seeking welfare benefits in the state of Florida will have to submit urine, blood, or hair samples to be tested for the use of illicit substances, and pay for the testing (Kondro E721). If the applicant tests negative, then they will be reimbursed for the cost of the drug test. If they test positive, then they are prohibited from receiving...
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...part of policy discussions pertaining to public welfare. Since the federal welfare reform of 1996, states had begun to proposition for drug testing of individuals applying for public benefits. Currently, the federal government allows drug testing as a precursor for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). In the past years, most states have proposed drug screenings or some other source of drug testing for applicants of TANF. In 2009, there were over 20 states with a legislation proposal requiring that drug tests become a part of the eligibility process for public assistance programs and 12 states had similar proposals in 2010. None of the proposals have become laws due to the idea that the legislations were based off suspicion or random drug testing. This idea is at odds with the 2003 Michigan Court of Appeals case. Marchwinski v. Howard which ruled the subjecting all welfare applicants to drug testing without out any reason to believe that they were currently using or have recently used was not in alignment with our constitution (Newell, 2011). Currently, Oklahoma has a policy that is in accordance with the testing of welfare applicants, but that abides by the Marchwinski v. Howard case because it does not violate the rights of applicants and is not deemed unconstitutional. Oklahoma’s Policy 340:10-4-1. Mandatory Drug Screening Issued 12-5-12 States: (a) Per Section 230.52 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statues, adult parents, or needy caretakers...
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...Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Jason Hoops ENG325: Intermediate Composition Instructor: Ms. Heather Auger August 11, 2014 Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients One of the most controversial issues surrounding the governmental welfare system today is the push for mandatory drug testing for its participants. With the present controversy surrounding it, several would pose the question as to whether or not the government should have the right to hold people who partake in the government entitlements accountable for illegal drug use or would this sort of action actually cross that boundary line of civil liberties into an invasion of one’s privacy? The state welfare system was established to financially assist those who are unable to meet the basic needs for everyday living; drugs are far from the basic human needs. If drug-using recipients receive the same benefits as those that are not parking in the illegal usage, they are much more likely to use their benefit check to obtain their next fix rather than to purchase the groceries needed to feed their families. Implementing mandatory drug testing for its recipients would decrease the amount of people abusing the system as it would require them to maintain a drug free status in order to receive their aid. In doing so, it would also reveal the recipients who are utilizing a portion of the governmental program for the wrong reasons; thus being a waste of tax payer’s governmental...
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...made to Drug Test for Benefits? Thesis: People receiving food stamps should be tested for drugs because people on Food Stamps are considered to be mostly low income families and testing for drugs might stop some of the selling of food stamps. Main Point 1: People who apply for food stamps while under the influence of drugs should be made to test for them. Some people feel that drugs are not bad based on the drugs of choice but I think anything that affects the way your mind thinks is harmful. Now researching this topic has allowed me the opportunity to see other people thoughts on the subject. According to (Bouie, J., 2014) “For the vast majority of people on public assistance, illicit drug use isn't a problem” but I think that even if 25% of clients that are tested positive are helped to stop using that is worth it. I agree with the article by (Bouie, J., 2014) that states “mandatory drug tests don't solve a public policy problem” which it might not but it just might save a life. Reference: Bouie, J. (2014, March 26). Georgia’s Horrid Plan to Punish Drug-Using Food Stamp Recipients, and How to Fix It. <i>Slate Magazine</i>. Retrieved May 11, 2014, from http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/03/georgia_drug_testing_for_food_stamps_how_to_fix_the_state_s_terrible_plan.html Main Point 2: People that work are made to take a test to be hired or maintain employment. Per Nolo website “Many states allow an employer to test for drugs based on...
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...There are many pros and cons regarding drug testing people before they are able to receive welfare benefits. Some people think it is a violation of their rights, the testing is not fail proof, and the cost is usually greater than the benefit. Those who are in favor of drug testing believe it will benefit the welfare system, help the tax payers save money and also help the children of the parents if they are using drugs. Government leaders and most of the general public look at it from a financial point of view while people who receive benefits look at it from a constitutional point of view. The government court system and judges are not backing the drug testing idea because of the fourth amendment. In my personal opinion I am for people being drug tested who receive benefits or any assistance from government funded programs. The middle class worker has to be drug tested to work, earn money and pay taxes. People who receive assistance should not be exempt from this type of requirement. What is Welfare? Welfare is a public assistance program designed to help people who are not able to support themselves fully. Welfare encompasses those government programs that provide benefits and economic assistance to no or low income individuals. It can also be defined as financial assistance to impoverished individuals which is supplied through the taxes paid by the working class. Improving the quality of life and living standards for the poor and underprivileged is one of the main goals of...
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...not to have a drug-testing policy in corporate America is a major undertaking. Alcohol and drug abuse are considered to be amongst the most common and dangerous health hazards in the workplace. Drug use in the workplace is an increased liability to employers and can cost companies millions of dollars in legal expenses and compliance standards. In this case study, Castulon Corporation, is faced with a dilemma of whether or not to implement a drug-testing policy. The cause for this dilemma is the fact that upper management has been notified of two separate incidents in the past two months of possible drug abuse (Ivancevich p. 532). In this case study, it would seem logical that Castulon Coporation should establish a drug-testing program. Where it is legal to do so nearly every company or business should have a drug-testing policy. The policy does not have to be mandatory for all situations, but should at least be a requirement after a significant mistake or accident. There are many pros and cons to utilizing a drug-testing program but the biggest positive out ways everything which is safety. This is especially true for this case study as the company is in the manufacturing industry so they are at a higher risk for injury and loss of life (Ivancevich p. 533). A drug-testing policy would start with screening any newly hired employees. This would be a pre-condition of employment. The individual would have to pass an initial drug test. This pre-employment drug testing gives the employer...
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...United States Prison System: The War on Drugs The United States of America is no longer the home of the free. It is the home of the locked up and caged. How can this nation embrace the concept of freedom when over 2.4 million of its citizens are locked up in prison? How can Americans have the nerve to utter the words, “racial equality” when over 10% of all African-American men is incarcerated? How can we take pride in a nation that locks up its citizens that suffer from the disease of addiction? This should be an embarrassment to all Americans. The criminal justice system must be reformed and surrender the “War on Drugs.” According to the June 2008 Bureau of Justice Summary, Americans make up only four and a half percent of the world’s population yet boasts twenty-two percent of the world’s incarcerated population. According to the same report, the American Criminal Justice System imprisons six times more of its population than other free nations such as Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain, and Italy. America incarcerates ten times more of its population than Japan, France, and Finland. We have the highest rate of incarceration in the world, much higher than China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and North Korea whom we consider fascias police states. The 2009 statistics reported in the Prison Index showed that one third of African-American men will serve time in prison at some point in their life. The Bureau of Justice statistics reported, “The number of inmates in...
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... Organizational Legal Compliance HR Accountability and Application Strategic Partner HR Fiscal Performance 2. (TCO 1) Modern concepts for promoting employee involvement include all of the following except: (Points : 4) Delegation Theory X Management Participative Management Goal Setting Employer Training 3. (TCO 2) Jonathan, a VP for Human Resources, is evaluating the extent to which the hiring and employment practices in his organization are in compliance with federal and state laws. Which type of external influences that impact HRM is Jonathan considering? (Points : 4) Workforce diversity Community relations Governmental legislation Ethics Labor unions 4. (TCO 2) According to court definition, evaluating men and women using different standards is an example of: (Points : 4) Correction imbalance Adverse impact Sexual harassment Adverse (disparate) treatment 5. (TCO 3) Which of the following is not true regarding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? (Points : 4) It prohibits discrimination in hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, and privileges of employment based on race, religion, color, sex, or national origin. It protects employees 40-65 years of age from discrimination. It prohibits retaliation against an individual who files a charge of discrimination. ...
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...management positions. United States Correct Answer Thailand You Answered Canada Brazil Hong Kong See page 14 Question 4 0 / 3 pts <p>To assist the organization in its strategic direction, which of the following must HRM NOT do?</p> To assist the organization in its strategic direction, which of the following must HRM NOT do? Correct Answer Only react to the decisions made by top managers You Answered Be forward thinking Take the lead regarding the “people” dimension of the organization Support the business strategy Attract and retain the most qualified employees See page 32 Question 5 0 / 3 pts <p>Which of these legislation raises the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70; uncapped in 1986?</p> Which of these legislation raises the mandatory...
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...Discussion Questions Week 1 DQ 1 How does drug abuse affect the work place? Substance abuse affects the workplace in a variety of ways. Whether it be illegal narcotics, prescription drugs, or alcohol the affects are all similar. These types of substances can impair an individual’s judgment and can cause serious safety issues among other things. These are some of the problems inherent from substance abuse in the workplace: 1. More absenteeism and tardiness can be expected along with job-related accidents. 2. Businesses lose money each year because of substance abuse. 3. Employees who use drugs in the workplace are less productive than non-users. 4. Thefts rise along with damaged equipment and other unnecessary costs. 5. Non-users may have to work harder to make up for the problem employees (Dfaf, 2008). Larger corporations have a better handle on drug issues as they have established drug policies in effect and many of these corporations implement random drug tests. Smaller businesses are affected the most as they do not have established drug policies, usually do not require drug testing, and do not have the financial reserves to cover company related accidents. I have personally seen a few individuals lose their jobs because of drug abuse. One recently was an employee in his mid 20’s. Someone called and said his truck was driving erratically on the road. To make a long story short he failed the drug test. Substance abuse in the workplace not only ...
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...money to drug users collecting welfare. Numerous people can argue and say that our tax money should be use elsewhere instead of giving it away. First of all, California has the highest amount of welfare recipients in the United States. One of the reasons is high is because California has a population of over 39 million people. Secondly, California does not require a criminal background or drug test for people needing...
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...Drug Policy Reform Eric L. Morton Urban Policy/UST 458 Cleveland State University Abstract In the United States the prison population has increased from 300,000 in 1972 to 2.2 million people today. One in 31 adults in the United States is in jail, prison, on probation or parole. The American government currently spends over 68 billion dollars a year on incarceration. Drug Policy and the incarceration of low-level drug offenders is the primary cause of mass incarceration in the United States. Forty percent of drug arrests are for simple possession of marijuana. Growing evidence indicates that drug treatment and counseling programs are far more effective in reducing drug addiction and abuse than is incarceration. Drug policies most often refer to the government's attempt to combat the negative effects of drug addiction and misuse in its society Governments try to combat drug addiction with policies which address both the demand and supply of drugs, as well as policies which can mitigate the harms of drug abuse. Demand reduction measures include prohibition, fines for drug offenses, incarceration for persons convicted for drug offenses, treatment (such as voluntary rehabilitation), awareness campaigns, community social services, and support for families. Policies which may help mitigate the effects of drug abuse include needle exchange and drug substitution programs, as well as free facilities for testing...
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