Georgia Won't Enforce Law On Food Stamp Drug Testing
Monday, June 16th, 2014
Georgia will not drug test food stamp recipients under a controversial new law that both federal and state officials concluded was illegal, the governor's office said on Friday.
The Republican-controlled legislature this spring passed a law requiring testing if authorities had a "reasonable suspicion" of drug use. People failing the test would temporarily lose food stamp benefits, although children could still receive them.
The drug testing law, set to take effect July 1, drew outcry from civil liberties advocates, who said it violated the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches.
Recently, both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Georgia's attorney general determined the drug testing plan violated federal law.
