MA: Mideast Welfare Drug Screening (Vetoed)

[afleitch]

Section 4 is unworkable. Benefits for children can only be paid to the legal guardian or the current care giver of that child. If the authorities have already determined that the parent is fit to look after their child then they should be paid welfare on behalf of that child; you cannot circumvent that especially as many children only have one legal guardian.

[afleitch]

I still feel that if a parent is declared fit (or hasn't been declared unfit) to have guardianship over a child then they should receive welfare entitled for that child. Parents can have had a drug conviction or even a drug problem in the past but still be fit parents.

[afleitch]

VETO

xAfleitch

[afleitch]

A note to Assembly members. The bill was vetoed due to the content of Section 4. I considered the terms an intrusion into the independent work of Child Welfare services who have the responsibility for making sure that vulnerable children are protected. If they consider a parent is fit to be a parent then that parent is fit to appropriate welfare payments made on behalf of the child.

The bill seems more concerned about parents who may fail a drug test than it is about parents who regularly his the bottle. In both cases we entrust Child Welfare to make a sound judgement in the issues of the child,