West Virginia House Bill HB2251

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Department of Human Services to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the pilot program for drug screening of applicants for cash assistance

Summary

HB2251 authorizes the Department of Human Services to promulgate a legislative rule for a pilot program that screens applicants for cash assistance for drug use. The bill itself does not create the screening program directly; instead, it gives legal approval to an existing or proposed administrative rule filed by the agency, allowing the rule to take effect under state law. The measure is narrowly focused on the administration of cash assistance benefits and the Department of Human Services’ authority to implement the pilot program. By authorizing the rule in statute, the bill affects the regulatory framework governing public assistance eligibility and the agency’s ability to test drug screening as part of the application process.

Impact

HB2251 amends and reenacts §64-5A-1 of the West Virginia Code to authorize a legislative rule under §9-3-6 concerning a pilot drug-screening program for cash assistance applicants. Its practical effect is to validate the Department of Human Services’ rulemaking on this topic and permit the agency to administer the pilot program within the bounds of state law. The bill primarily affects applicants for cash assistance and the agency responsible for determining eligibility and implementing public assistance policy.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available record. Based on the bill’s subject matter, the measure appears to be a policy authorization bill rather than a broad program expansion, and the available materials do not show any formal controversy in the legislative process. The overall sentiment cannot be determined from the provided context.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the use of drug screening as a condition or screening tool for applicants seeking cash assistance, which can raise concerns about privacy, fairness, administrative burden, and access to benefits. Supporters would likely view the pilot as a way to test eligibility safeguards and public accountability, while critics may argue it could stigmatize low-income applicants or create barriers to assistance. However, no specific objections or named opponents appear in the provided transcripts or voting history.