DWD Secretary Doesn’t Provide Details On Proposal To Drug Test Those On Benefits

Gov. Scott Walker’s administration won’t offer many details of a plan Walker campaigned on that would require drug testing for recipients of unemployment benefits.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson told the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee it was too early to say what kinds of drugs people would be tested for. He also offered no details on what kind of treatment they’d receive if they test positive.

Asked repeatedly to elaborate, Newson said the state needed guidance from the federal government first.

“What’s in the budget in terms of what the governor’s proposed is a placeholder as a start to get the program going,” said Newson. “Once we get that guidance, we’ll be able to draft out administrative rules that will be specific to your questions. Until we get that guidance, I can’t answer any of your questions because I don’t know.”

Walker’s budget sets aside a half-million dollars to fund substance abuse treatment for the unemployment insurance program.