Florida Gov. Scott Signs Drug Test Law

Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed into law a controversial bill allowing random drug screenings of up to 10% of state employees and people on state subsidized temporary assistance, up to four times a year.

Scott issued Executive Order 11-58 in March of last year allowing the random drug tests, but backed off after a law suit was filed by the Florida chapter of the ACLU. The ACLU said that the law "punishes poor people", and that "If the drug test comes back positive, Florida will not provide drug treatment, it will merely make the applicant ineligible to reapply for TANF for a year".

It's not enough that the State ("tax-payers" for those of you who don't know where the State's money come from) is responsible for your food, it's also the State's responsibility to treat your personal, harmful health decisions.

Scott, after signing the bill, said:

[it is] "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction"

"It's the right thing for taxpayers"

"It's the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs."

There are many on the Left that are upset with the (Individual responsibility of keeping yourself clean while sucking off the teat of the Florida tax-payer) newly signed law. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fl), a well known elected embarrassment of the State of Florida, said:

"[the law] represent[s] an extreme and illegal invasion of personal privacy."

...and Rep. Alcee Hastings:

"If Governor Scott wants to drug test recipients of TANF benefits, where does he draw the line? Are families receiving Medicaid, state emergency relief, or educational grants and loans next?"

This morning, the Florida chapter of the ACLU responded on Twitter:



Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida, regarding Governor Scott’s signing of HB 1205 last night:

“No one should be surprised if this latest effort ends up in court – just as the Governor’s past efforts to impose urine testing on applicants for government benefits and his Executive Order for state employee testing are now before the courts. “And when this matter lands in the courts, we expect they will make it clear once again that government cannot subject people to suspicion-less searches just because it wants to. People do not lose their constitutional rights just because they work for the state of Florida.”

Simon did not say this time that they would file suit, just that you "shouldn't be surprised". In the last suit, the ACLU said the law was in clear violation of the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

If not contested, the law goes into effect July 1st of this year. This will make Florida the first state to allow random drug testing for people on temporary assistance.

Update: via WOKV in Jacksonville, Florida's Attorney General Pam Bondi is bracing for the lawsuits she anticipates will be filed against the state's new law requiring that state employees be drug tested.