BAXLEY BILL ASKS LAWMAKERS TO VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT TO DRUG TEST

State lawmakers, already grappling with such issues as a nursing home
crisis and electric deregulation, could find themselves faced by a new test.

Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, a freshman lawmaker, wants all 160 members of
the Legislature to volunteer to take drug tests.

Baxley is the sponsor of House Bill 329, which calls for the voluntary
testing and stipulates that the test results be kept private. The names of
lawmakers who declined to undergo the tests, however, would be made public.

Counseling would be offered to those lawmakers that fail the drug tests,
Baxley said Thursday.

The bill notes that the Legislature "should not expect more of the citizens
of this state under the drug-free workplace program than the Legislature
expects of its own membership.''

Baxley said he owns an Ocala funeral home, where drug testing of employees
is required.

"It's hypocritical of me to ask others to drug test and yet the Legislature
doesn't set the example of doing the same thing,'' he said.

While the Legislature has supported drug testing of public and
private-sector employees, they have rejected similar attempts in the past
to require that they also submit to drug tests. And Baxley is uncertain his
bill will succeed where others have failed.

He said his fellow lawmakers have been silent on the proposal and he has
yet to find someone in the Senate to sponsor the needed companion
legislation in that chamber.

"The biggest problem I'm having is finding a senator who will stick his
head up,'' he said. "It surprises me it's as controversial as it is.''

Kim Stone, spokeswoman for House Speaker Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, said the
speaker supports the concept but can't commit to the bill until he gives it
a fuller reading.

"Certainly, he's for anything that would maximize public confidence in
legislators,'' Stone said.

Christina Johnson, spokeswoman for Senate President John McKay, R-
Bradenton, said McKay hadn't seen the proposed legislation and could not
comment.

The Legislature convenes March 6, but is considering now which bills to
take up. Baxley's bill is not yet on that list.