POSITIVE TEST MEANS AX FOR GUARDS

Prison guards and state police will be automatically fired if they test
positive for drugs under a law signed Thursday by Gov. George Ryan.

Drug testing will be random and an employee who tests positive for drugs
cannot later be rehired by the department. Before a firing under the
"zero-tolerance" law, a second test will be done on the urine sample to
confirm the results.

The zero-tolerance law for prison guards and Illinois State Police is part
of a deal that included increased pensions for both groups.

"Drugs and prisons are like gasoline and matches. I can't think of a more
dangerous combination for staff to face," said Donald N. Snyder, director
of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Sam Nolen, director of the Illinois State Police, called it "common sense"
to write the zero-tolerance policy into law. It "provides the assurance
that officers working together are thinking clearly and ready to protect
the public and defend one another."

The law took effect immediately.