ACTION ALERT! Protect victim access to TANF benefits! Ask legislators TODAY to OPPOSE HB 861 and SB 292 regarding drug testing for TANF applicants!

Protect victim access to TANF!   Please contact your legislators TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 861 and Senate Bill 292, which require applicants for TANF cash assistance to pay for and pass drug screens before receiving benefits for themselves or their children.

There is no question that economic security is closely linked to safety for victims of domestic violence and their children.  Without access to money and resources, many victims find themselves forced to stay with or return to their batterers, thereby increasing their risk of further abuse and homicide.

For so many victims and their children, TANF cash assistance has served as an important stepping stone toward economic security for themselves and their children.  Unfortunately, House Bill 861 and Senate Bill 292 would decrease access to this important resource, creating yet another barrier to victims seeking to become economically independent from their batterers.  We need your help in letting legislators know how these bills will impact victims of domestic violence and their children!

ACTIONS NEEDED

• House Bill 861 will be before the House Judiciary Committee TOMORROW, February 29 at 2:30 p.m.  Please contact the members of the Committee to explain how this bill will hurt domestic violence victims and their children, and then ask them to OPPOSE House Bill 861.  You will find their individual contact information below.

• Senate Bill 292 will be up for a vote on the Senate floor early next week.  Please contact your Senators to explain how this bill will hurt domestic violence victims and their children, and then ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 292.  You can find the names and contact information for the Senators representing your domestic violence program by visiting http://www.votesmart.org/

Additional information to pass along to legislators, if time permits

• In a 2010 national survey of nearly 600 domestic violence program staff from all 50 states, over 96% of survey respondents answered “yes” to the question “Is access to TANF financial assistance an important resource for a significant number of family violence victims?”
• In this same survey, at least half of the victims served by their agency needed TANF as part of their safety plan.  TANF provides critical short-term assistance to victims who may have no other source of financial support for themselves and their children.
• These bills will require TANF applicants to pay a $17 fee for the drug test in order to apply for benefits.  Many victims do not have even $17, so this will create yet another obstacle to accessing TANF benefits.
• If an applicant tests negative, the state will have to reimburse the applicant for the cost of the drug test.  At a time when GA has lost $37M in TANF funds, we cannot afford the fiscal impact of this bill.
• Victims in rural areas may face challenges with transportation to get to the drug screening location.  SB 292 requires applicants to submit to a drug test within 48 hours of being approved for TANF which may be difficult for victims to comply with, given all of the other issues victims are often addressing when they have fled an abusive relationship.

House Judiciary Committee members

Rep. Wendell Willard, Chair – 404.656.5125 - wendell.willard@house.ga.gov

Rep. Mike Jacobs, Vice-Chair – 404.656.0152 – mike.jacobs@house.ga.gov

Rep. Stephen Allison – 404.656.0188 - stephen.allison@house.ga.gov

Rep. Rich Golick – 404.656.5943 - rich.golick@house.ga.gov

Rep. Joe Wilkinson – 404.463.8143 - joe.wilkinson@house.ga.gov

Rep. Roger Bruce - 404.656.0314 - roger.bruce@house.ga.gov

Rep. Rick Crawford – 404.656.0265 - rick.crawford@house.ga.gov

Rep. Elly Dobbs – 404.656.7859 - elly.dobbs@house.ga.gov

Rep. Stacey Evans – 404.656.6372 - stacey.evans@house.ga.gov

Rep. Mark Hatfield - 404.656.0109 - mark.hatfield@house.ga.gov    

Rep. Roger Lane – 404.656.5087 - roger.lane@house.ga.gov

Rep. Edward Lindsey – 404.656.5024 - edward.lindsey@house.ga.gov

Rep. Billy Maddox – 404.656.3947 - billy.maddox@house.ga.gov

Rep. Doug McKillip - 404.656.0177 - doug.mckillip@house.ga.gov

Rep. Randy Nix – 404.656.0177 – randy.nix@house.ga.gov

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver – 404.656.0265 - mary.oliver@house.ga.gov

Rep. Larry O’Neal - 404.656.5052 - larry.oneal@house.ga.gov

Rep. Jay Powell – 404.656.7856 - jay.powell@house.ga.gov

Rep. Pam Stephenson – 404.656.0126 - pamela.stephenson@house.ga.gov

Rep. Andy Welch - 404.656.0109 - andy.welch@house.ga.gov

Rep. Tom Weldon – 404.656.0152 - tom.weldon@house.ga.gov

Thank you for taking time to protect victim access to this vital economic safety net!

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