Source: Associated Press  05/31/1997 16:57 EST 

 Puerto Rico Passes Drug Test Bill 

 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  More than 100,000 public school
 teachers and other state workers would be subject to mandatory
 drugtesting under a bill approved by the Senate of this U.S.
 commonwealth. 

 ``Securityrelated and sensitive government employees'' from ambulance
 drivers to park rangers would be covered by the bill, passed by the Senate
 unanimously on Friday, The San Juan Star reported Saturday. 

 It would allow employers to fire securityrelated workers who test positive.

 Puerto Rico's House of Representatives already has approved a tougher
 measure that would require all government employees  about 200,000
 workers  to undergo drug tests. The House also passed a bill Friday that
 would extend mandatory testing to privatesector security workers. 

 Legislators from both houses are expected to meet soon in an effort to draft
 a consensus bill. Both versions face fierce opposition, especially from the
 powerful public teacher's union, which represents 40,000 educators. 

 The proposals come as this Caribbean island has been besieged by
 traffickers attempting to smuggle narcotics into the United States. 

 As much as 30 percent of illegal drugs reaching the U.S. mainland pass
 through Puerto Rico, and officials estimate 90 percent of the island's crime
 is drugrelated. 

 Senators said Friday they would lobby for their more moderate proposal
 because the House bill could invite legal battles. 

 Sen. Kenneth McClintock, chairman of the committee that proposed the
 bill, cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a Georgia
 law requiring political candidates to pass a drug test. 

 ``What we're looking for is an efficient process of drug testing, not to give
 attorneys more billable hours,'' the Star quoted him as saying. 

 McClintock said the Senate proposal would protect employees by
 imposing a fixed oneyear jail term or $2,000 fine on anyone who divulges
 confidential test results.