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• FLORIDA CAPITOL NEWS
FLORIDA - Lawmakers are looking at adopting random drug testing for people who apply for unemployment benefits.
People who fail the drug test would be denied unemployment.
The unemployed fear random testing would slow down the payment process.
With half a million Floridians receiving unemployment benefits, lawmakers want to make sure none of the money is used to buy drugs. Senator Mike Bennett filed legislation to create drug testing for people seeking unemployment.
Mike Bennett / (R) Bradenton, "I do believe that the people who are taking that money should be qualified and ready and able to work. I want to make sure that we're not supporting somebody else's drug habit who is not willing and able."
The bill requires random testing for one out of every ten people who apply for unemployment. The drug tests cost about 30 bucks. The person applying for benefits would have to foot the bill.
"The unemployed fear drug testing would slow down the process and increase the waiting time for benefits."
Ether Hunter was laid off from her housekeeping job two months ago. She says random testing isn't fair because the people who have been laid off have paid into the plan, and shouldn't be barred for any reason.
Ether Hunter / Unemployed, "I'm not a drug person, but I can say, I don't think it's right people got to go through that just to get the money they worked for; I don't think it's right."
Governor Charlie Crist says the idea is worth debating.
Charlie Crist / Governor, "Whether or not it's a good idea, I think it is certainly worth considering."
One consideration lawmakers will take into account is whether or not the state's unemployment fund can keep up with the growing number of jobless and if drug testing could save the fund money. In Tallahassee, Whiney Ray, Channel Three News.>>
There's 860 million dollars in the state's unemployment compensation trust fund.
Last week the fund paid 60 million dollars in claims.
Unemployment benefits are a federal entitlement program, so if the fund runs dry, people would still get their money.
People who fail the drug test would be denied unemployment.
The unemployed fear random testing would slow down the payment process.
With half a million Floridians receiving unemployment benefits, lawmakers want to make sure none of the money is used to buy drugs. Senator Mike Bennett filed legislation to create drug testing for people seeking unemployment.
Mike Bennett / (R) Bradenton, "I do believe that the people who are taking that money should be qualified and ready and able to work. I want to make sure that we're not supporting somebody else's drug habit who is not willing and able."
The bill requires random testing for one out of every ten people who apply for unemployment. The drug tests cost about 30 bucks. The person applying for benefits would have to foot the bill.
"The unemployed fear drug testing would slow down the process and increase the waiting time for benefits."
Ether Hunter was laid off from her housekeeping job two months ago. She says random testing isn't fair because the people who have been laid off have paid into the plan, and shouldn't be barred for any reason.
Ether Hunter / Unemployed, "I'm not a drug person, but I can say, I don't think it's right people got to go through that just to get the money they worked for; I don't think it's right."
Governor Charlie Crist says the idea is worth debating.
Charlie Crist / Governor, "Whether or not it's a good idea, I think it is certainly worth considering."
One consideration lawmakers will take into account is whether or not the state's unemployment fund can keep up with the growing number of jobless and if drug testing could save the fund money. In Tallahassee, Whiney Ray, Channel Three News.>>
There's 860 million dollars in the state's unemployment compensation trust fund.
Last week the fund paid 60 million dollars in claims.
Unemployment benefits are a federal entitlement program, so if the fund runs dry, people would still get their money.
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