PROSECUTOR SUPPORTS BUNDA CALL FOR DRUG TESTING HAWAII STUDENTS

HONOLULU (AP) -- Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said he is enthusiastic
about Senate President Robert Bunda's call for drug testing of public school
students.

Carlisle said the idea is not to kick kids out of school, but to figure out
who has a problem and fix it.

However, others were less enthusiastic.

Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa said the issue raises concerns
about constitutional rights, search and seizure and privacy.

Board of Education Vice Chairwoman Karen Knudsen said the issue of drug
testing needs careful review. She said there is a need for more dialogue.

''I'm not comfortable with students being picked out for random drug testing
unless we see that it's a real need,'' she said.

American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii Executive Director Vanessa Chong
denounced the idea. She said it could run afoul if the Hawaii Constitution,
which provides greater privacy protection than do other states.

''We think he can only conclude that drug testing as a drug-abuse reduction
method is a failure,'' Chong said. ''It will turn law-abiding students into
suspects.''

Gov. Linda Lingle said she needs to know more details of the proposal before
commenting.

Bunda, in the opening-day speech on Wednesday, proposed a pilot drug-testing
program and said he hopes it would apply to all students.