The House State Affairs Committee has tabled a bill requiring every member of the South Dakota Legislature to take drug tests.
Representative Tim Goodwin of Rapid City is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1133.
"It's not meant to embarrass anybody. If this bill was passed, it wouldn't take effect until next year. If there is members of the body that have to have drugs or who are using drugs, they have until next session to get off of them or don't run for re-election. There's no emergency clause on it so it wouldn't take effect right away. And, basically, it's set up to have a urinalysis the first couple weeks of session and also the last couple weeks of session - meaning that there was no drug use while we were here," Goodwin says.
Representative Dan Kaiser of Aberdeen also sponsors the bill. He says lawmakers should lead by example and agree to a drug test if they require police officers, truck drivers, mental health care workers, and members of other professions to do so.
Goodwin says lawmakers taking drug tests will silence rumors about drug use in the Legislature.
Representative David Lust of Rapid City asked Goodwin for further evidence.
“About the rumors - I don't need any names, do you have any specific instances where this has either been a problem to the legislative process or to safety?” Lust says. “I do not have any safety or incidents at all, no,” Goodwin says. “Unlike the professions that were itemized by Representative Kaiser, the drug test in those circumstances is for public safety. I did not hear any testimony that indicated that even if a legislator were on drugs, that somehow the public safety is at risk. This is a really cynical approach to the legislature. It's either based on cynicism or grandstanding. In either case, it's wholly inappropriate to bring to this body,” Lust says.
The panel deferred the bill to the 41st legislative day on an 11-2 vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering similar legislation Thursday morning. Goodwin and Senator Neil Tapio of Watertown sponsor that bill.
You can listen to legislative committee hearings and floor sessions of the South Dakota House and Senate at sd.net.