Mt. Vernon Trustee Requires Drug Tests Before Providing Assistance

Here's one that we want to hear your opinion on:

The Black Township Trustee in Posey County has become the first in  the state to require that applicants for assistance prove that they are not using drugs.

Lindsey Suits, the trustee responsible for the decision, says that the goal of the policy is to prevent taxpayers from paying for illegal drugs. She told the Courier and Press that the purpose of the trustees funds is to provide emergency assistance with utility bills, rent, groceries or other essentials when people have exhausted other resources.

Each year about 1,000 people apply for assistance with the Black Township Trustee and the office has an annual budget of $317,000. Suits as allocated $22,000 towards all of the costs associated with administering the tests.

Thirty five people have applied for assistance in the three weeks since the policy has been in place. About a third of the applicants tested positive for illegal drugs.

Seven states have passed laws requiring some form of drug screening before residence can receive state assistance and the Indiana legislature will consider a bill this year that would require random drug testing for people who apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Here's where your opinion counts. WHat do you think?