1. (1) If the Department determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that a new Families First/TANF applicant is using drugs as defined in this Chapter, the applicant shall submit to a drug test at a drug testing agency approved by the Department.

2. (2) Initial Drug Screening to Determine Reasonable Cause.

   1. (a) Reasonable cause shall exist when the applicant’s completed drug screening questionnaire contains one or more “yes” responses.
   2. (b) Any applicant who answers “yes” to one or more questions on the drug screening questionnaire must submit to a drug test.
   3. (c) Any Families First/TANF applicant/recipient who has a current, valid prescription or prescriptions for a drug or drugs, as defined in this Chapter, may present the prescription(s) to the drug testing agency and/or medical review officer (MRO) as well as inform the agency and/or MRO of any over-the-counter medication the individual is currently taking after submitting to a drug test. No drug for which an applicant has a current, valid prescription shall be a basis for denial of Families First/TANF benefits pursuant to this Chapter.
3. (3) Failure to complete the drug screening questionnaire or to submit to a drug test based on the results of the drug screening questionnaire, without good cause, shall result in denial of the applicant’s Families First/TANF application.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201 et seq., 71-3-1201 et seq., 21 U.S.C. § 862b. Administrative History: Original rule filed April 2, 2014; effective July 1, 2014.