LANSING, - Legislation was introduced today, to help ensure public assistance recipients are giving back to their communities, said sponsor Sen. Joe Hune. Senate Bills 275 and 276, both introduced by Hune, were originally SBs 904 and 905, introduced last fall, which failed to pass. (curious, is it not?)

SB 276 would require cash assistance recipients who are not exempt from the Jobs, Education and Training program to participate in community service. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg says:

"People benefiting from public assistance should do something to give back to the community that is providing them with a helping hand, and that is exactly what my bill does. I am glad that these common sense reforms are moving forward."

We are all for it here.

Hune's other measure, SB 275, would require public assistance applicants to submit to a drug test if their caseworker has a reasonable suspicion they may be abusing drugs.

"When it comes to drug testing, individuals using taxpayer money for assistance need to be held accountable for abusing it - period"

SBs 275 and 276 were referred to the Senate Families, Seniors, and Human Services Committee for further consideration.