The American Civil Liberties (ACLU) Union filed a lawsuit late Tuesday, challenging the constitutionality of the State of Florida to test applicants seeking temporary cash assistance for illegal drugs.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of an Orlando area military veteran, comes a few months after legislators passed the sweeping measure, the toughest such provision in the nation. From July 1, persons applying for temporary assistance have had to agree to take and pass a drug test to be eligible for the program.
The ACLU argues that the passage of HB 353, which subjects seekers of temporary cash assistance to suspiciousless searches, is a practice that has been previously struck down by the courts.
“The state requires invasive testing of bodily fluids merely because applicants have fallen on hard times and need temporary help to tide them and their children over until they can once again be employed, ” the suit reads.
A press conference is scheduled for the ACLU to discuss the class action lawsuit today.
The suit is filed on behalf of Luis Lebron, 35, an unemployed Navy veteran who is an accounting undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida and expected to graduate in December.
