GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 941

Short Title:        Eligibility Requirements/Public Assistance.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Rouzer;  Apodaca, Brown, Tillman, and Vaughan.
Referred to:	State and Local Government.

March 26, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT requiring applicants for public assistance to undergo drug testing and demonstrate that the applicant is employed, furthering the applicant's education, or performing community service before the applicant is eligible for public assistance.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following section to read:

"§ 108A-31.1.  Eligibility for assistance.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to be eligible for program assistance under this Part, an applicant shall undergo drug testing as administered by the county department of social services in the county in which the applicant resides, or, in the case of residents of Electing Counties, administered by the public or private entity designated by the board of county commissioners. If the applicant passes the drug test, the applicant shall submit evidence to the entity administering program assistance under this Part that the applicant meets at least one of the following requirements:

(1) Is currently employed in a part-time job;

(2) Is furthering the applicant's education in a secondary or postsecondary educational setting approved by the entity administering program assistance under this Part; or

(3) Is performing community service approved by the entity administering program assistance under this Part.

If the applicant fails to pass the drug test, the applicant shall be required to undergo substance abuse treatment in accordance with G.S. 108A-29.1.

(b) An applicant meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section shall be eligible for program assistance under this Part. Nothing in this section shall prevent an applicant from receiving program assistance when the applicant is unemployed, unable to further the applicant's education, or unable to perform community service due to disability."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.