Federal Government tells Georgia: no mandatory drug tests for food stamp recipients

ATLANTA, June 4 (UPI) -- The federal government told Georgia on Tuesday that it cannot mandate drug testing of food stamp recipients.

In March the Georgia Legislature passed a bill requiring state employees to drug test applicants to and recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they are suspected of using drugs. In April, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R ) signed the bill into law.

The legislation is set to take effect July 1, but on Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent a letter stating the law is in violation of federal policy.

"Requiring SNAP applicants and recipients to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits would constitute an additional condition of eligibility, and therefore, is not allowable under law," wrote Robin Bailey, a regional administrator for the USDA.

Republicans in Congress failed last year to add a drug testing amendment to the Farm Bill, and the state of Florida's attempt to pass drug testing requirements for SNAP were declared unconstitutional by a federal court.