FONDA - The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will decide Tuesday whether to support a state measure that would require public assistance applicants to be tested for drugs before receiving benefits.
The county Finance Committee on Tuesday moved a resolution to support the state measure to the full Board of Supervisors without a recommendation.
The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford. The bill is being worked on by the Assembly's Social Services Committee. Under the measure, applicants who fail the drug test would have to undergo a drug rehabilitation program before obtaining benefits.
Amsterdam 5th Ward Supervisor Karl Baia supports the drug testing. He said many people in his ward are angry about people using public assistance to pay for their drug habits.
"A lot of people walk up to me and say they know someone on drugs who is also on public assistance," Baia said.
Palatine Supervisor Sieds Jonker said it's not right to say people can't be tested while on welfare, but can be tested when they are trying to gain employment.
Charleston Supervisor Shayne Walters said in today's economy, more families in the county are going to need assistance. Anything that can be done to remove people who are abusing the system would help, he said.
Some supervisors said the language of the state measure and the local resolution needed to be clearer.
Amsterdam 4th Ward Supervisor David Dybas said the bill needs to be structured so the state pays for the testing and rehabilitation.
"I'm in favor of this as long as our representative and senators agree to put in the budget money to conduct the testing and the state pays for the rehab," Dybas said.
Amsterdam Town Supervisor Tom DiMezza agreed, saying it appeared little thought went into drafting the state bill.
Both men agreed the county should put a clause in their letter of support saying the state should provide funding for the measure.
A few supervisors were against the plan, saying the policy would be discriminatory.
Amsterdam 2nd Ward Supervisor Barbara Johnson said the plan discriminates against people who use public assistance.
"Personally, I don't think it's a good bill and I'm not going to support it," Johnson said. "This is the wrong way to go."
Johnson said if the state is going to test public assistance recipients, then others who receive money from the state also should be tested for drugs.
Amsterdam 1st Ward Supervisor Vito Greco agreed with Johnson, saying the bill discriminates against minorities.
Greco also didn't like the idea of paying for drug rehabilitation, only to have the person apply for assistance again.
The full board will vote on the matter at 7 p.m. Tuesday.