Pubdate: Thur, 11 Nov 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ DRUG-TEST RULE FOR WELFARE IS HALTED BY JUDGE Michigan's experimental program requiring welfare applicants to be tested for drugs was blocked Wednesday by a federal judge who said the practice appears to be unconstitutional. Under the program that began Oct. 1, most welfare applicants in three western counties and a portion of the Detroit suburbs must provide urine samples before being considered for benefits. No one who tests positive will be denied food stamps or assistance checks, and police won't be notified. But offenders who don't go to state-ordered treatment risk the gradual loss of benefits. Although a few other states require limited drug testing for some welfare recipients, none has made it part of the application process for family benefits, as Michigan's program did, said the New York-based Legal Action Center, a nonprofit policy group. - --- MAP posted-by: manemez j lovitto