Well that worked out well...

[stevo]

Even if they are correct, have the test cost come out of the approved applicant's first check.... 98% of the cost goes away....

They are tested randomly, and if tested positive, they are denied future benefits, so the only thing that could happen would be to bill the person that failed, and considering they are on welfare I doubt they have the cash/would pay when billed.

Stevo

[Snatch Napkin]

Even if they are correct, have the test cost come out of the approved applicant's first check.... 98% of the cost goes away....

This is how it should be.


I still say that the article is skewed quite a bit. It reads like it was written with a lean.

[Mach1]

What part?

Well, I read that as, the who program costs 178 mil, not the testing.

[GSRGuy94]

Even if they are correct, have the test cost come out of the approved applicant's first check.... 98% of the cost goes away....

So charge the person that needs the money for the clean test. Makes a lot of sense. The whole premise of this bill was to have the people that test clean NOT PAY FOR THE TEST.

[Gargamel]

Even if they are correct, have the test cost come out of the approved applicant's first check.... 98% of the cost goes away....

[GSRGuy94]

I think you are reading that incorrectly.

What part?

[8mpg]

Im really wondering if those statistics are correct.

[Mach1]

I think you are reading that incorrectly.

[GSRGuy94]

http://www2.tbo.com/news/politics/2011/aug/24/3/welfare-drug-testing-yields-2-percent-positive-res-ar-252458/

Since the state began testing welfare applicants for drugs in July, about 2 percent have tested positive, preliminary data shows.

So far, they say, about 2 percent of applicants are failing the test; another 2 percent are not completing the application process, for reasons unspecified.

Cost of the tests averages about $30. Assuming that 1,000 to 1,500 applicants take the test every month, the state will owe about $28,800-$43,200 monthly in reimbursements to those who test drug-free.

That compares with roughly $32,200-$48,200 the state may save on one month's worth of rejected applicants.

The savings assume that 20 to 30 people -- 2 percent of 1,000 to 1,500 tested -- fail the drug test every month. On average, a welfare recipient costs the state $134 in monthly benefits, which the rejected applicants won't get, saving the state $2,680-$3,350 per month.

But since one failed test disqualifies an applicant for a full year's worth of benefits, the state could save $32,200-$48,200 annually on the applicants rejected in a single month.

Net savings to the state -- $3,400 to $8,200 annually on one month's worth of rejected applicants. Over 12 months, the money saved on all rejected applicants would add up to $40,800-$98,400 for the cash assistance program that state analysts have predicted will cost $178 million this fiscal year.

Saving $100k by spending $178 million. BRILLIANT!