Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Help our Neediest Families Act of 2016”.
Help our Neediest Families Act of 2016
A BILL
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to prohibit a State from requiring individuals to submit to drug testing as a condition of assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance to needy families, to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit a public housing agency from requiring individuals to submit to drug testing as a condition of assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Prohibition on drug testing for the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance to needy families
In general— Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(13) Prohibition on drug testing as a condition on the receipt of assistance—A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not—
“(A) use any part of the grant to conduct drug testing on any applicant for assistance under the State program funded under this part or any recipient of such assistance; or
“(B) require any individual to submit to drug testing as a condition for such assistance.”
Penalty for noncompliance— Section 409(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(17) Penalty for noncompliance with prohibition on drug testing—If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has violated section 408(a)(13) during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to not more than 1 percent of the State family assistance grant.”
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 3 Prohibition on drug testing for Housing Choice Voucher Program
Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 USC 1437f) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(20) Prohibition on drug testing—A public housing agency assisted under this subsection may not require any individual receiving assistance under this subsection to submit to drug testing as a condition for receipt of assistance under this subsection.”