Minutes 06-18-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, the proposed drug testing requirements would create hardships for families with the least resources and in many cases will discourage those families from applying for available assistance even when no substance abuse is present; and WHEREAS, if a family does pursue the screening and no issues are identified, it is proposed that the local county social services department will reimburse the family for the costs although no State funds have been appropriated for this expense, thereby establishing another State unfunded mandate for county governments; and WHEREAS, the imposition of a drug testing requirement appears discriminatory by requiring low income families to be screened when many other individuals supported by other various government subsidies and programs are not subject to these arbitrarily invasive requirements; and WHEREAS, provisions such as the one proposed have been successfully challenged on constitutional grounds in other states and the same challenge would likely occur in North Carolina, while in the interim local agencies will have already implemented procedures to adopt the new rules, clients will have already been impacted and costs will already have been incurred; and WHEREAS, there are presently a significant number of requirements that limit the eligible population for the Work First Program, including provisions that 1) the Program only serves parents with children; 2) parents must comply with various regulations related to the education and health of their children; and 3) parents must also participate in work related activities (usually thirty hours per week); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, support all families and children and believe that the changes being proposed to the Work First Program through Senate Bill 594 will harm children and their parents, will be ineffective and costly, will create another unfunded mandate for county governments, and will ultimately and appropriately be reversed on constitutional grounds as has occurred in other states. The Board encourages all members of the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Pat McCrory to oppose the changes detailed in Senate Bill 594 and any other bills requiring drug testing as a condition of eligibility for public assistance programs. This, the 18th day of June 2013. A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to approve a Resolution Opposing Potential Drug Testing for Public Assistance Recipients, which is proposed in Senate Bill 594 before the 2013 North Carolina General Assembly and authorize the Chair to sign. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair Jacobs said the rose sheet—Potential Orange County Fair- Summer Working Group Change- also needs to be added to the consent agenda. A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to add the Potential Orange County Fair- Summer Working Group Change as item 5-x to the consent agenda.