Drug Tests for Elected Officials Approved

The State Senate approved legislation Wednesday which would require state elected officials as well as those in the federally-funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to undergo random drug testing.  
Sen. Bryce Marlatt is co-author of Senate Bill 1392, and successfully amended the measure to ensure state elected officials are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on the job.

“In the private sector, drug testing is part of the job description and state employees are also subject to these tests.  I don’t believe our state elected officials should be treated any different,” said Marlatt, R-Woodward.  

Marlatt’s amendment would require all state elected officials to undergo the same standards as private sector employees and staff.

The measure will next be heard in House committee.  If approved by the Governor, the new law would go into affect November 1, 2011.

This measure will not randomly test the intelligence, emotional stability or sanity levels of elected officials nor those on assistance programs in Oklahoma.