OAR 461-135-0085: Requirement to Attend an Assessment or Evaluation, or Seek Medically Appropriate Treatment for Substance Abuse and Mental Health; Disqualification and Penalties; TANF

In the TANF program: (1) For the purposes of this rule: (a) "Assessment for substance abuse" means an assessment performed by an appropriate licensed professional with the purpose of discovering the presence of substance abuse. (b) "Controlled substance" means a drug or its immediate precursor classified in Schedules I through V under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 811 to 812, as modified under ORS 475.035. The use of the term "precursor" in this subsection does not control and is not controlled by the use of the term "precursor" in ORS 475.840 to 475.980. Alcohol is not a controlled substance. (c) "Self-identified illegal use" means an individual states they illegally used a controlled substance within the previous 30 days. Illegal use does not include the use of a controlled substance pursuant to a valid prescription, or other use authorized by the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, ORS 475.005 to 475.285 and 475.840 to 475.980, the federal Controlled Substances Act, or other Federal law. (2) When directed by the Department, an adult member or parenting teen in the need group (see OAR 461-110-0630) who is JOBS mandatory (see OAR 461-130-0305), must participate in: (a) An assessment for substance abuse if: (A) The individual has self-identified illegal use of a controlled substance ; and (B) The assessment is available and at no cost to the individual. (b) Medically appropriate treatment for substance abuse if it is available and at no cost to the individual when: (A) The individual reports a qualified and appropriate professional has diagnosed the individual with a substance abuse disorder within the previous twelve months; or (B) An assessment resulted in a diagnosis requiring medically appropriate treatment for the individual to be successful in the workplace. (3) When directed by the Department, an adult member or parenting teen in the need group (see OAR 461-110-0630) who is JOBS mandatory (see OAR 461-130-0305), must participate in medically appropriate treatment for mental health if it is available and at no cost to the individual when: (a) The individual reports a qualified and appropriate professional has diagnosed the individual with a mental health disorder within the previous twelve months; or (b) An evaluation resulted in a mental health diagnosis requiring medically appropriate treatment for the individual to be successful in the workplace. (4) An individual is responsible for providing information needed by the Department to determine whether the individual had good cause (see OAR 461-130-0327) for failing to meet the requirements of this rule. If a medical condition must be evaluated in regard to the requirements of this rule, the Department will assist the individual in obtaining a medical opinion from a qualified and appropriate medical professional. (5) An individual who refuses to participate in a required assessment, evaluation, or the medically appropriate treatment required by this rule is subject to disqualification in accordance with this section and OAR 461-130-0330 only after the individual has had an opportunity to participate in the re-engagement process (see OAR 461-190-0231) including a determination by the Department of whether the individual had good cause for non-participation. An individual who is disqualified may end the disqualification by meeting the provisions in OAR 461-135-0089.