BLOOMINGTON – Police in Bloomington say they have contacted authorities in Louisiana about their search for a college student whose disappearance has similarities to that of an Indiana University student who has been missingINDIANAPOLIS – A bill to drug test some welfare recipients failed in a Senate committee Wednesday after members expressed concern about the cost of the program and availability of treatment programs for struggling Hoosiers.
“Obviously I’m extremely disappointed,” said Rep. Jud McMillin, R-Brookville- author of the bill. “I will be looking for any means I can to keep it alive.”
While House Bill 1007 containing the measure is dead, the language did pass the House, which means it is eligible to be amended into other bills.
The legislation would have affected only cash welfare benefits – not food stamps, housing vouchers or Medicaid services. Only about 1 percent of Hoosiers receive this benefit, which averages about $210 a month.
Those not consenting to drug tests but who later have a positive test after reasonable suspicion is raised could have their benefits revoked.
Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, provided the deciding vote against the bill, which failed 5-5.
She said she appreciated the concept of the proposal but doesn’t feel the appropriate safety nets are in place for children that might be affected in a home.
Gard also noted the significant cost of the program and said it needs to be examined in a summer study committee.
Niki Kelly is Statehouse bureau chief of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
