Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits
Floridians who apply for unemployment benefits would be subject to random drug testing if one state lawmaker has his way. Civil rights groups say the idea implies that unemployed people are drug users. Sen. Mike Bennett says with more people out of work these days and with government facing its own financial issues, he wants to make sure that unemployment benefits are going to help people and not support drug habits. Bennett says his bill is also intended to improve workplace safety since the state provides job-placement assistance.
The bill calls for 10 percent of those who file an unemployment claim and 10 percent of those who receive benefits to be tested on a random basis. The cost of the test would be deducted from a persons benefits. If a person fails their drug test, they would not be eligible for unemployment benefits for a year and the test results would be turned over to local authorities. The American Civil Liberties Union says the proposal makes the assumption that unemployed workers are drug users. Bennett argues thats not the case.
I don't like the sound of this. :irked: It's a little too 'Big Brother' for me. Plus what about those who do fail the test?
More importantly, where do those people go? How do they live? Do they end up in jail, since local authorities will be notified? Yeah, that will save the taxpayers money . . . NOT. :angryfire2: I'm not condoning drug use, but this law has some serious problems.