JUNEAU, Alaska—
Adults applying for cash public assistance would have to declare their sobriety under a bill heard by an Alaska House committee.
It's a reworked version of HB16, introduced by Rep. Wes Keller. The measure initially would have allowed the state to conduct "random and suspicion-based" drug and alcohol testing of adults who receive cash public assistance. It was set for a hearing last month but Keller pulled it to do additional work on it.
The measure, unveiled Tuesday, would scrap the random testing element and instead require recipients to sign a sworn statement saying they don't abuse alcohol or use illegally obtained drugs. They also must declare they won't engage in such actions while they receive cash assistance.
