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A 1065

Provides that before a person may receive public assistance benefits, they must submit to a drug test

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 9 co-sponsors

Would condition eligibility for public assistance on a drug test before benefits are issued, affecting applicants, recipients, and the agencies that administer benefits.

REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
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Bill Summary · A 1065

Summary of Assembly Bill A 1065 (New York)

Overview

Bill A 1065 would require an applicant to submit to a drug test before receiving public assistance benefits. The measure is currently in the Social Services committee after introduction on January 8, 2025, and has multiple cosponsors with Joe Angelino listed as the primary sponsor.

  • Status: Referred to Social Services (introduced January 8, 2025)
  • Introduced: January 8, 2025
  • Primary Sponsor: Joe Angelino
  • Cosponsors: John Lemondes, Brian Manktelow, Angelo J. Morinello, David DiPietro, Joe DeStefano, Karl Brabenec, David McDonough, Keith Brown, Patrick Chludzinski
  • Related Bills (prior-session counterparts): A 2261, A 1998, A 227, A 3602, A 10600, A 1818, A 1245, A 5327, A 2614

Purpose and Intent

The core intent of A 1065 is to condition eligibility for public assistance benefits on a drug test. The bill seeks to ensure that individuals receiving or seeking public assistance meet a drug-free expectation as a prerequisite to benefit eligibility. The text provided does not include details on exemptions, remedies, or the consequences of a positive test, which would be clarified in the bill’s full language.

Key Provisions (as described)

  • Eligibility Condition: Applicants for public assistance benefits must submit to a drug test before benefits can be issued.
  • Administration and Process: The bill would outline how testing is conducted, confidentiality protections, and handling of test results (these specifics are not detailed in the summary provided).
  • Outcomes for Test Results: The summary does not specify what happens if a test is positive, inconclusive, or if an applicant has a medical exemption; these would be defined in the bill text.
  • Implementation Details: Any related costs, who pays for testing, and the timeline for compliance would be addressed in the bill, but are not enumerated in the available summary.

Affected Parties

  • Public assistance applicants and recipients
  • State or local agencies administering public assistance programs
  • Potentially individuals with medical or other exemptions, if provided in the bill

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: January 8, 2025
  • Current status: Referred to the Social Services committee (listed twice in the legislative actions)
  • Next steps: While in committee, the bill could be amended or advanced to a floor vote, depending on committee action and legislative timing.

Fiscal and Administrative Considerations

  • Potential costs associated with administering drug tests (testing, verification, appeals, and confidentiality) are not specified in the summary but are commonly a consideration in similar bills.
  • The bill’s enactment could shift administrative workload to the agencies administering public assistance.

Relationship to Related Legislation

  • A 1065 has multiple prior-session counterparts (A 2261, A 1998, A 227, A 3602, A 10600, A 1818, A 1245, A 5327, A 2614), suggesting recurring legislative interest in drug-testing prerequisites for public assistance.

Notes

  • The summary provided does not include the full text, which would specify exemptions, appeals, consequences for noncompliance, privacy protections, and funding provisions. For a complete analysis, reviewing the bill’s language and fiscal notes would be necessary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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