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Wyoming2012Did Not Pass

HB0082

Drug Testing for Public Assistance Applicants

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would require drug testing for adults applying for the POWER program and suspend benefits for one month if a test is positive, unless the person completes treatment.

What it does

  • Requires the department to pay for drug tests for adults applying for POWER benefits.
  • Suspends benefits for one month if an applicant tests positive for controlled substances, unless the substance was obtained with a valid prescription.
  • Allows an applicant to reapply immediately if they document successful participation in a certified substance abuse treatment program and pass an additional drug test.
  • Extends the suspension to one year if an applicant tests positive a second time.
  • Requires the department to provide a list of certified substance abuse treatment providers to anyone who tests positive.
  • Protects the benefits of other household members and designates a protective payee for dependent children if a parent is suspended.

Who it affects

  • Adults applying for POWER benefits, including parents and caretaker relatives.
  • The state department responsible for administering welfare programs.
  • Household members and dependent children of applicants who test positive.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2012 session and was indefinitely postponed.
  • The bill text provided is a working draft that includes amendments, but the final enacted text is not available.
  • The bill does not specify the exact method of drug testing, only that it must be reliable.

Plain language

Terms to know

POWER program
The Personal Opportunities with Employment Responsibilities program, a state welfare benefit.
Controlled substances
Drugs regulated by the government, including illegal drugs and certain prescription medications.
Protective payee
A person designated to receive benefits on behalf of a dependent child.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 5:34 PM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill to answer constituent questions about why public assistance recipients are not drug tested when employees in other sectors must be, proposing a pilot program to determine if a problem exists.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:29:44 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

5 roll calls

S Failed CoW; Indef Postponed 13-17-0-0-02012-03-05 · Senate13 yes 17 no
Yes
13
No
17
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 13

Austin "Kit" JenningsS28Charles ScottR · S30Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16Drew A PerkinsS29Eli D BeboutS26Gerald E GeisS20Henry R CoeS18Jim AndersonS02Leslie J NuttingS07Ogden DriskillR · S01Ray R PetersonS19Stan CooperS14

No 17

Bill LandenR · S27Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Chris RothfussD · S09Floyd EsquibelS08Fred M EmerichS05John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Marty A MartinS12Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Nicholas PPaul R BarnardS15Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06
S10 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 3-2-0-0-02012-03-02 · Senate3 yes 2 no
Yes
3
No
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 3

Charles ScottR · S30Dan DockstaderR · S16Leslie J NuttingS07

No 2

John C SchifferS22Marty A MartinS12
H Passed 3rd Reading 37-23-0-0-02012-02-27 · House37 yes 23 no
Yes
37
No
23
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 37

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bryan K PedersenH07Carl R LoucksH59David R MillerH55Del McOmieH54Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03Gerald GayH36Gregory R BlikreH53Hans HuntH02John C EklundH10John D Bonner Jr.H25Kathleen DavisonH20Kendell R KroekerH35Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Matthias E GreeneH45Matt TeetersH05Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Norine A KasperikH32Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Samuel P KroneH24Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31

No 23

Bernadine CraftH17Catherine R ConnollyH13Clarence J VranishH49Dn.Donald E Burkhart JrH15Glenn W MonizH46James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44John L FreemanH60John W PattonH29Jonathan A BottenH30Joseph M BarbutoH48Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Mary A ThroneH11Nicholas BRuth A PetroffH16Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer
H10 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 6-3-0-0-02012-02-20 · House6 yes 3 no
Yes
6
No
3
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 6

David R MillerH55Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03Gerald GayH36Matthias E GreeneH45Thomas F ReederH58

No 3

Bernadine CraftH17Joseph M BarbutoH48Keith M GingeryH23
H Introduced and Referred to H10 47-13-0-0-02012-02-16 · House47 yes 13 no
Yes
47
No
13
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 47

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bryan K PedersenH07Carl R LoucksH59Clarence J VranishH49David R MillerH55Del McOmieH54Dn.Donald E Burkhart JrH15Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03Gerald GayH36Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Hans HuntH02John C EklundH10John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Jonathan A BottenH30Kathleen DavisonH20Kendell R KroekerH35Kermit C BrownH14Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Matthias E GreeneH45Matt TeetersH05Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Norine A KasperikH32Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Samuel P KroneH24Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47Zwonitzer

No 13

Bernadine CraftH17Catherine R ConnollyH13James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44John L FreemanH60Joseph M BarbutoH48Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Mary A ThroneH11Nicholas BRuth A PetroffH16Stanley L BlakeH39W. Patrick P GogglesH33

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Failed CoW; Indef PostponedSenate
  2. S Amendments AdoptedSenate
  3. Amendment AdoptedSenate
  4. S Placed on General FileSenate
  5. S10 Recommended Amend and Do PassSenate
  6. S Introduced and Referred to S10Senate
  7. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  8. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  9. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  10. H Passed CoWHouse
  11. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  12. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  13. Amendment FailedHouse
  14. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  15. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  16. H Placed on General FileHouse
  17. H10 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
  18. H Introduced and Referred to H10House
  19. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  20. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

6 stored

HB0082H2001

Withdrawn 2nd reading by BYRD

HB0082HW001

Failed Committee of the Whole by BYRD

HB0082HW002

Adopted Committee of the Whole by GREENE

HB0082HW003

Adopted Committee of the Whole by GREENE

HB0082HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by H10

HB0082SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by SCOTT