( CNN ) -- Florida Gov . Rick Scott on Sunday defended recent legislation that requires adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screenings , saying the law provides `` personal accountability . '' `` It 's not right for taxpayer money to be paying for somebody 's drug addiction , '' Scott told CNN 's T.J. Holmes on Sunday . `` On top of that , this is going to increase personal responsibility , personal accountability . We should n't be subsidizing people 's addiction . '' But the ACLU of Florida , which has already filed suit against Scott over a measure requiring government employees to undergo random drug testing , disagrees , and may sue over the welfare law as well . `` What ( Scott ) is doing is giving ugly legitimacy to an unfortunate stereotype that has been in this country for a couple of decades -- that all welfare recipients are a bunch of drug abusers , '' said Howard Simon , executive director of the ACLU of Florida . Scott told CNN he wants to ensure that welfare funds go to their primary target -- to disadvantaged children -- and provide people with an incentive not to use drugs . He signed the measure on June 1 , calling it `` the right thing for taxpayers . '' Under the law , which takes effect on July 1 , the Florida Department of Children and Family Services will be required to conduct the drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program . The aid recipients would be responsible for the cost of the screening , which they would recoup in their assistance if they qualify . Those who fail the required drug testing may designate another individual to receive the benefits on behalf of their children , and do not receive a refund for the test . Shortly after the bill was signed , five Democrats from the state 's congressional delegation issued a joint statement attacking the legislation , one calling it `` downright unconstitutional . '' `` Governor Scott 's new drug testing law is not only an affront to families in need and detrimental to our nation 's ongoing economic recovery , it is downright unconstitutional , '' said Rep. Alcee Hastings . `` If Governor Scott wants to drug test recipients of TANF benefits , where does he draw the line ? Are families receiving Medicaid , state emergency relief , or educational grants and loans next ? '' `` I work for the ACLU , and it 's our job to prevent trampling on the constitutional rights of people , '' Simon said . The Constitution mandates that searches can not be conducted without probable cause , he said . Controversy over the measure was heightened by Scott 's past association with a company he co-founded that operates walk-in urgent care clinics in Florida and counts drug screening among the services it provides . In April , Scott , who had transferred his ownership interest in Solantic Corp. to a trust in his wife 's name , said the company would not contract for state business , according to local media reports . Asked about the company Sunday , Scott said he is in the process of selling his family 's interest in the company and `` it will be sold in a couple of weeks . '' There is no conflict of interest , he said . On May 18 , the Florida Ethics Commission ruled that two conflict-of-interest complaints against Scott were legally insufficient to warrant investigation , and adopted an opinion that no `` prohibited conflict of interest '' existed . On the measure requiring public employees to undergo drug testing , Simon noted that public employees -- workers in city , county , state and federal government -- are protected by the Constitution and should not undergo `` intrusive '' drug testing without probable cause to believe a person is using drugs .
Gov . Rick Scott : ` ` We ' n't be subsiding people 's addiction '' The ban takes effect July 1 . The ACLU of Florida says it will take over the case .