DRUG TEST BILL DEFEATED

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that would give schools broad authority for
large-scale drug testing of students fell two votes short of passage
in the state Senate on Monday.

But Sen. Brad Henry, D-Shawnee, the Senate author, said he may take
another stab at passing it. He held it on the calendar and has until
Thursday to change the minds of those who voted against it.

The measure, House Bill 1289, previously was approved by the House in
a different form. The Senate vote was 23-24, with 25 votes needed in
the 48-member body.

Senators who opposed the bill said it targets the wrong students,
would be an invasion of privacy and could ruin the lives of bright
young people.

Other lawmakers said strong action is needed to curb drug and alcohol
use, which has reached epidemic proportions in some schools.

The bill would authorize school districts to administer drug and
alcohol testing of students who engage in extracurricular activities,
such as sports and band.

Schools could single out individual students for testing or administer
tests to everyone engaged in a particular extracurricular activity.
They could conduct periodic tests or random tests or test particular
students based on a reasonable suspicion that they are using drugs or
alcohol.

School districts that administer the tests would have to make drug and
alcohol treatment available. A number of disciplinary actions would be
possible, including suspension from the extracurricular activity or
from school.

Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, demanded to know why supporters of the
legislation are ``attacking young people.''

``You're singling out the most outstanding students for testing,'' he
said. ``We're not going to do anything but hurt our best young people.''

But Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, said a recent survey showed
rampant drug and alcohol use in the Woodward school system, much
higher than the national average. He said a veteran teacher is
planning to quit ``because he's tired of trying to teach kids who are
high or half drunk.''

Sen. Dave Herbert, D-Midwest City, said students who abuse drugs are
adept at using chemical means to hide it.

``We're going to spend a lot of money on this mousetrap, and we aren't
going to catch many mice.''