PHOENIX — Arizonans
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would be subject to random
drug testing under the
terms of legislation approved
Tuesday night by the
Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Current state law requires
the Department of Economic
Security to test adults who
are on certain programs if
they have reason to believe
that the person is engaging
in illegal behavior. SB 1380
instead requires the agency
to set up procedures to select
a group of people every two
weeks to come in to get tested
for illegal drugs for which
they have no prescription.
The 9-3 vote sends the
plan to the full Senate.
Sen. Frank Antenori, RTucson,
said the expanded
testing makes sense.
“If people are wanting to
gain benefits at the expense
of someone else’s sweat and
labor, they should at least
submit to the fact that
they’re not using those benefits
for the purpose of subsidizing
an illicit drug
habit,’’ he said.
Antenoiri said what he is
proposing is no different
than the random drug tests
given to soldiers and which
are required by many companies
of their employees.
Who would be tested
would be based on the recipient’s
social security number:
Anyone whose last two
digits matched the number
selected for testing would
have to report for testing
within two weeks.
“It’s fair, it’s across ther
board,’’ he said. “It’s not
based on someone’s opinion.’’
Antenori said a similar
plan in Wisconsin has saved
money. He said many people,
called in for their tests,
simply do not show up. That
allows the state to drop them
from the program.
But Sen. Rich Crandall, RMesa,
said there’s a flaw in
Antenori’s argumentn that
the savings to the program
would more than make up
the cost of the testing. He
pointed out the benefits are
paid by — and the savings
would accrue to — the federal
government; the state
would end up with the costs.
Foes of the legislation said
they do not believe it is legal.
Comments
miguel wrote on Mar 27, 2011 10:31 AM:
PeePeeClean.com wrote on Mar 17, 2011 12:36 AM: