AIONA PUSHES SCHOOL DRUG TESTING

HONOLULU -(AP)- Lt. Gov. James ''Duke'' Aiona on Tuesday pushed for
mandatory drug testing of some high school students, saying that drugs and
drug users in schools undermine the state's educational mission.

''The destructive impact of substance abuse on our educational system
demands that we take serious action now,'' Aiona said in testimony before
the Senate Education and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committees.

The committees were considering a bill to set up a pilot drug testing and
assistance program in public high schools that would involve at least one
high school from each complex area.

Under the bill, only students who take part in interscholastic athletics or
other physically demanding extracurricular activities would be required to
be tested.

Testing would not be allowed without the written consent of the student's
custodial parent or legal guardian. Students would require consent in order
to participate in extracurricular activities.

The committees deferred a decision on the bill. Education Chairman Norman
Sakamoto, D-Salt Lake-Foster Village, said he instead plans to introduce a
resolution that would convene all interested parties for further discussion.

''At this point there are many unanswered questions,'' Sakamoto said.
''There's concerns about the funding, there's concerns about the privacy,
the confidentiality, there's concerns about potential liability.

''Since it's very much a work in progress, the feeling was that if we did a
(resolution) to try and convene a group, or a process to address the issue,
that would be better at this point in time then to try and move forward with
so many different concerns.''

Opponents to the measure included the American Civil Liberties Union of
Hawaii and the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

In her testimony, state Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said the
Department of Education supports the intent of the measure but feels it may
be discriminatory because it only mandates the tests for some, not all,
students.

Aiona said any drug testing program would have to ensure a student's privacy
and the results of the tests could not be used to bring criminal charges or
the expulsion or suspension of students.

Tests need to be used ''as a preventive tool to assist families in
addressing issues related to their child's drug use,'' he said.

Aiona also said that he would like to see the program funded by a
public-private partnership, adding that the state already has received some
inquiries from potential service providers.

The proposal of drug testing in schools was raised by Senate President
Robert Bunda, D-Kaena-Wahiawa-Pupukea, in his remarks on opening day of the
Legislature.

Gov. Linda Lingle quickly jumped behind the proposal and said Aiona, a
former Family and Circuit judge who set up the state's Drug Court program,
would oversee the administration's efforts to see such legislation adopted.

A companion measure of the Senate bill in the House has not been scheduled
for hearings.