The Senate approved, 26-6, a bill to allow a school board to implement a drug-screening requirement for an applicant or existing employee of a public school district.
House Bill 1396, by Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, now goes to the governor.
Under HB1396, a school board may implement a policy that requires pre-employment drug screening or random screening of current employees.
[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]
In the case of a positive result from a random screening of an existing employee, a district may immediately dismiss the employee, require the employee to go on temporary leave or require the employee to enter a drug-treatment program.
Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, who is a retired teacher, said, "There must be probable cause and in no way has there been any demonstration that there is probable cause for testing teachers.
"This is just one more indignity to which teachers will have to submit to get to teach our kids," she said.
But Sen. Mark Johnson, R-Little Rock, countered, "The most important thing is we want to secure our children."
He said Bentley represents Perry County.
"I know of some specific problems we have with drugs in that county and I know all of you have problems in your areas, too," Johnson said.
-- Michael R. Wickline