89R5362 LRM-D
By: Slawson H.B. No. 2958
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the drug testing of certain persons seeking benefits
under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 31.0321 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.0321. DRUG SCREENING AND TESTING; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) In this section, "controlled substance" and "marihuana" have
the meanings assigned by Section 481.002, Health and Safety Code.
(b) Except as provided in Subsections (h) and (i):
(1) each adult applicant for financial assistance
benefits, including an applicant applying solely on behalf of a
child, who initially applies for those benefits or who applies for
the continuation of those benefits must submit to a marihuana and
controlled substance use screening assessment; and
(2) each minor parent who is the head of household must
submit to a marihuana and controlled substance use screening
assessment on the initial application for financial assistance
benefits and on any application for the continuation of those
benefits.
(c) A person whose marihuana and controlled substance use
screening assessment conducted under this section indicates good
cause to suspect the person of use of marihuana, other than low-THC
cannabis prescribed for the person by a physician as authorized by
Chapter 169, Occupations Code, or use of a controlled substance not
prescribed for the person by a health care practitioner shall
submit to a drug test, subject to rules adopted under Subsection (o)
that exempt a person from the drug test.
(d) The first time a person is required to submit to a drug
test under this section and the drug test indicates the presence in
the person's body of marihuana, other than low-THC cannabis
prescribed as described by Subsection (c), or of a controlled
substance not prescribed as described by that subsection, the
person is ineligible for financial assistance benefits for a period
of six months. The denial of eligibility for financial assistance
benefits to a person under this subsection does not affect the
eligibility of the person's family for financial assistance
benefits.
(e) Except as provided in Subsection (f), the second time a
person is required to submit to a drug test under this section and
the drug test indicates the presence in the person's body of
marihuana, other than low-THC cannabis prescribed as described by
Subsection (c), or of a controlled substance not prescribed as
described by that subsection, the person is ineligible for
financial assistance benefits for a period of 12 months.
(f) A person who is denied eligibility for financial
assistance benefits for a second time because of the results of a
drug test conducted under this section may reapply for financial
assistance benefits six months after the date the person's period
of ineligibility began if the person provides proof of the person's
successful completion of or current enrollment in a substance abuse
treatment program. A person reapplying for financial assistance
benefits must submit to a drug test as required by Subsection (h)
regardless of whether the person is continuing to receive substance
abuse treatment, subject to rules adopted under Subsection (o) that
exempt a person from the drug test.
(g) The third time a person is required to submit to a drug
test under this section and the drug test indicates the presence in
the person's body of marihuana, other than low-THC cannabis
prescribed as described by Subsection (c), or of a controlled
substance not prescribed as described by that subsection, the
person is permanently ineligible for financial assistance
benefits.
(h) A person who is denied eligibility for financial
assistance benefits because of the results of a drug test conducted
under this section must submit to a drug test, without first
submitting to a marihuana and controlled substance use screening
assessment, at the time of any reapplication for financial
assistance benefits and on any application for the continuation of
those benefits, subject to rules adopted under Subsection (o) that
exempt a person from the drug test.
(i) A person who has been convicted of a felony drug offense
must submit to a drug test, without first submitting to a marihuana
and controlled substance use screening assessment, at the time of
an initial application for financial assistance benefits and on any
application for the continuation of those benefits, subject to
rules adopted under Subsection (o) that exempt a person from the
drug test.
(j) Before denying eligibility for financial assistance
benefits under this section, the commission must:
(1) notify the person who submitted to a drug test of
the results of the test and the commission's proposed determination
of ineligibility; and
(2) confirm the results of the drug test through a
second drug test or other appropriate method.
(k) The commission may only use the results of a drug test
administered as provided by Subsection (j)(2) to confirm the
results of a previous drug test and may not consider those results
independently as a basis for denying eligibility under Subsection
(d), (e), or (g).
(l) The commission shall:
(1) use the most efficient and cost-effective
marihuana and controlled substance use screening assessment tool
that the commission can develop based on validated marihuana and
controlled substance use screening assessment tools; and
(2) pay the cost of any marihuana and controlled
substance use screening assessment or drug test administered under
this section out of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families block grant funds.
(m) The commission shall report to the Department of Family
and Protective Services for use in an investigation conducted under
Chapter 261, Family Code, if applicable, a person whose drug test
conducted under this section indicates the presence in the person's
body of marihuana, other than low-THC cannabis prescribed as
described by Subsection (c), or of a controlled substance not
prescribed as described by that subsection.
(n) If a parent or caretaker relative of a dependent child
is ineligible under Subsection (d), (e), or (g) to receive
financial assistance benefits on behalf of the child because of the
results of a drug test conducted under this section, the commission
shall designate a protective payee to receive financial assistance
benefits on behalf of the child. A person must submit to a
marihuana and controlled substance use screening assessment to
establish the person's eligibility to serve as a protective payee.
A person whose marihuana and controlled substance use screening
assessment indicates good cause to suspect the person of use of
marihuana, other than low-THC cannabis prescribed as described by
Subsection (c), or of a controlled substance not prescribed as
described by that subsection shall submit to a drug test to
establish the eligibility of the person to serve as a protective
payee, subject to rules adopted under Subsection (o) that exempt a
person from the drug test. A person whose drug test conducted under
this section indicates the presence in the person's body of
marihuana, other than low-THC cannabis prescribed as described by
Subsection (c), or of a controlled substance not prescribed as
described by that subsection is ineligible to serve as a protective
payee.
(o) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules
implementing this section, including rules that exempt a person
from having to submit to a drug test under this section if:
(1) there is no person who is authorized to administer
a drug test under this section in the county in which the person
resides; and
(2) submitting to a drug test outside the person's
county would impose an unreasonable hardship on the person.
SECTION 2. (a) Section 31.0321, Human Resources Code, as
added by this Act, applies to:
(1) an adult applicant, including an applicant
applying solely on behalf of a child, who initially applies for
financial assistance benefits under Chapter 31, Human Resources
Code, on or after the effective date of this Act;
(2) a minor parent who is the head of household who
initially applies for financial assistance benefits under Chapter
31, Human Resources Code, on or after the effective date of this
Act;
(3) an adult applicant, including an applicant
applying solely on behalf of a child, who applies for the
continuation of financial assistance benefits under Chapter 31,
Human Resources Code, on or after the effective date of this Act;
and
(4) a minor parent who is the head of household who
applies for the continuation of financial assistance benefits under
Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, on or after the effective date of
this Act.
(b) Except as provided by Subsections (a)(3) and (4) of this
section, an adult applicant, including an applicant applying solely
on behalf of a child, or a minor parent who is the head of household
who applied for financial assistance benefits under Chapter 31,
Human Resources Code, before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect when the person applied for financial
assistance benefits, and that law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.