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Heated committee hearing on mandatory drug testing for parents in child-welfare cases exposes operational concerns
Summary
House Bill 1268 would require mandatory drug testing by human service zones prior to unsupervised visits when illegal substances contributed to a child's removal; proponents said testing protects children and reduces reentry, while human service directors warned of implementation, access and privacy problems
Representative Karen Rohr introduced House Bill 1268, which would require human service zones to require a clean drug test before a parent who used illegal substances could begin unsupervised visitation when those substances contributed to the child’s removal. The sponsor presented an amendment that changed the appropriation to $95,000 and explained the proposal arose from foster-parent concerns and meetings with zone directors.
Bailey Greiner, a foster parent and co-author of the bill, told the committee the intent is to reduce reentry of children into foster care following reunification when parental substance use has not been resolved: “If an illegal substance is a contributing factor to the abuse and neglect of a child, then the parent should have a clean drug test from that substance prior to an unsupervised…
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