(MOBILE, Ala.) - Made official by Florida Gov. Rick Scott it's the new application for assistance in Florida, if you need welfare, first, can you pass a drug test?
Welfare applicants in Florida will now have to undergo a drug test before they can receive benefits.
"If they have the money to abuse drugs, then they have the money to live on instead of being paid for," said Delaine Byrd. Struggling with a family of five, Byrd says the new law sits just fine with her, "If they're going to receive help from taxpayers than I think they should deserve it, the help."
Who is deserving is at the heart of why the similar laws have struggled to take hold in other states. Bills in Iowa, South Dakota and Michigan were quickly squashed. Critics say it's unconstitutional violating privacy and search seizure law, but more than that they say it's designed to demean, a mean spirited attack on the poor and some agree.
"It's a type of discrimination they're singling out a group of people," said Kenneth Jones of Mobile.
Others say it could inadvertently harm children who receive the bulk of welfare benefits.
"You know we don't want to punish children either, rather than punish the children I'd like for them to get it," said Gary James.
But many more we spoke to are siding with Florida's new governor.
"That's basically like saying it's okay lets help them out just even though they on drugs just because they have kids, what about the working parents with kids that's not getting no help, like me?"
