In an earlier letter I explained that Florida Statute Section 414.0652 did not require the welfare recipient to undergo involuntary drug testing before being entitled to benefits. In that letter I set forth a portion of the statute to show that only the guardian of a minor child is tested and the child who is the real beneficiary is not subject to testing.
I was taking a narrow view of the statute in so much as the argument against it was that based upon court precedent, drug testing was held illegal. In the precedent-setting case the test was a prerequisite for the adult beneficiary.
Those of you who read the letter probably believed that I am in favor of government randomly testing people for drugs. I am not. I am also not in favor of government handouts, when the real solution is jobs in private wealth-producing industries.
I have sent a proposed amendment to the statute to my legislator in which I oppose the language of the existing statute on other grounds. I would require testing only in instances in which a guardian has an arrest record for a drug or alcohol-related offense, or is tested and fails a psychological test for substance abuse. In other words, government should have a good reason for demanding that we comply with its laws.
Frank Morelli, Wellington
