Representatives TerriLois Gregory (Left, R-Baldwin City) and Mario Goico (R-Wichita) during a committee meeting Tuesday. (Photo by Stephen Koranda) A House committee has approved a bill that would require random drug tests for Kansans on state cash assistance programs. One-third of people receiving or applying for assistance would be tested every year. Representative TerriLois (“terry lois”) Gregory, a Baldwin City Republican, proposed an amendment that would have required legislators and some judges to also take drug tests.
Representative Jim Howell, a Republican from Derby, said there were no enforcement provisions, so the amendment wouldn’t accomplish anything. Howell said he understands the equity argument, but he said there is a difference between lawmakers and people receiving state assistance.
Other committee members said testing lawmakers and judges goes beyond the original scope of the bill and would be cost prohibitive. The committee rejected the amendment. The bill will now go to the full House.