DSS: No TANF drug tests have been administered under 2011 law

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5/10/2011: Radio Story - The Governor now will decide on a bill passed by the House and Senate that would take funds away from welfare recipients who fail drug tests

1/26/2011: Newspaper Story - If passed, a new law will legalize the testing of some welfare recipients based solely on suspicion

4/12/2011: Radio Story - The public testified at a Senate Committee hearing on whether the House-passed welfare drug testing bill would help or harm children dependent on funds

5/10/2011: Newspaper Story - Welfare drug testing heads to the Governor's desk after the Missouri House gave final approval.

10/13/2011: Radio Story - MO DSS refuses to talk about the new welfare drug testing program - months after the bill was signed into law.

Intro:	The Missouri Department of Social Services says it has not drug-tested a single person receiving state welfare benefits, even though it has had more than a year to do so.
RunTime:	0:32
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Governor Jay Nixon signed a law in July 2011 requiring welfare recipients to be tested if the state has "reasonable cause" to believe they are using drugs.

But Department spokeswoman Rebecca Woelfel says the department has not yet approved a rule to implement the law.

Actuality:	WOELFEL2.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: (Woelfel)"Testing won't begin until it's approved, the rule is approved.(reporter) So no drug testing at all has happened so far?(Woelfel) Yeah it hasn't taken place. We're still kind of in the stages. We have to get the rule approved before the drug testing can begin."

Reporting from the Capitol, I'm Brendan Cullerton.

Intro:	The state Department of Social Services has not drug-tested a single welfare recipient--and they won't say much about why.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A law signed by Governor Jay Nixon in 2011 requires the department to test welfare recipients if there is "reasonable cause" to suspect they are using drugs.

Department spokeswoman Rebecca Woelfel says the Department has not finished making rules to implement the law, and refused to answer any other questions.

Actuality:	WOELFEL3.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: "(reporter) Can I actually ask you a couple questions now about the program.(Woelfel) No not really, but like I said if you want to send me any additional information that you want, I would be happy to address it at that time.(reporter) Is anyone in the Department available now to talk about the program.(Woelfel) No, not today."

The Department has provided few documents despite multiple open records requests from reporters in the Capitol.

Reporting from the Capitol, I'm Brendan Cullerton.