Welfare Drug-Testing Legislation Approved by Michigan House

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Legislation that would require Michigan welfare applicants and recipients to pass a drug test was approved by the Michigan House on Thursday, the Lansing State Journal reports.

The measure passed by a 71-37 vote, and is on its way to the Michigan Senate. Under the legislation, the Department of Human Services would be required to conduct suspicion-based substance abuse screening and testing for applicants and recipients of the Family Independence Program who are at least 18-years-old, the paper says.  

The program would begin as a pilot in January and would expand throughout the state by 2015, according to the Journal.

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