Bill Proposes Drug Tests for Teachers

State Representative Tony DeLuca (D) of Allegheny County is introducing legislation that would require all applicants for public and private school jobs to be tested for drugs before they can be hired. DeLuca says this is a common sense measure to keep the state's children safe. "We also expect our school employees to submit to a criminal records check and a child abuse clearance before they are hired, yet we do not require proof that these same employees are free of using illegal drugs," says DeLuca. State Representative Nick Kotick (D) of Allegheny, a supporter of the bill, says this is a proactive, not reactive, piece of legislation. Says Kotick, "Oftentimes in the legislature we do things after the fact. I think this legislation tries to address the issue before the fact, and it also sends a strong message to young graduates coming out of the various universities: If they want to pursue a career in education, they'd better be careful about their habits."