DRUG TESTING IN SCHOOLS PROPOSED

WASHINGTON - Two House Republicans are seeking federally funded
drug testing in schools as a way to reduce youth violence.

Supporters of the proposals, announced Wednesday, said random testing
would help arm parents with the facts as they confront their children
about drug use.

``The number one fear of parents, grandparents and family members is
`Does my child have access to illegal drugs?''' Rep. John Peterson,
R-Pa., said at a news conference. ``The only way to have drug-free
schools is to follow the successful program of the military and the
workplace.''

The Defense Department already has a drug-testing policy, as do many
private companies.

Peterson's measure would authorize school districts to conduct random
testing unless parents decline to participate, while a bill by Rep.
James Rogan, R-Calif., would require parental consent. The Rogan bill
also provides $500 million for drug counseling.

``Knowing of a child's drug habit is only the first step,'' Rogan
said.

Peter Bensinger, an anti-drug consultant and administrator of the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration under President Ford, said the tests
would let parents know to get help for their children.

``Without question, people that test positive for drugs are more
violent, most likely to commit crimes and most likely to be absent and
have problems,'' he said.

Peterson said reduction in drug use could help prevent rampages such
as last week's shootings in Littleton, Colo., from being a regular
occurrence. Toxicology tests revealed no drugs or alcohol in the
bodies of the Colorado gunmen, but Peterson said there have been
incidents elsewhere that involved drugs.

Both bills would keep results from law-enforcement officials, although
Peterson's calls for the school to be notified when there is a second
positive test result. In other cases, the test results would go
directly to the parents.

DeForest Rathbone, chairman of the National Institute of Citizen
Anti-drug Policy, said the legislation would probably be challenged in
court, but he thought it would survive. He said more than 100 school
districts in up to 20 states already test some students.

The Supreme Court in 1995 ruled in an Oregon case that random drug
tests for student athletes do not violate the Constitution's Fourth
Amendment protection against unreasonable searches. But no court has
ever condoned the random testing of all public school students.

In addition to $500 million for drug counseling, Rogan's bill would
authorize $500 million for the tests of children grades 9 to 12.
Peterson's bill sets no funding level for the tests, which would apply
to children grades 7 to 12. His bill would require a state or local
school district to cover half of the testing costs.