Republican Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson proposes drug testing for jobless aid

5:08 PM, Jan 15, 2013   |    comments
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas lawmaker is proposing that the state require recipients of state unemployment benefits to pass a drug test.

Republican Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson of Benton on Tuesday filed legislation that would require applicants for unemployment benefits to undergo a drug test. The bill calls for drug testing to be administered to a random group of applicants before the first and thirteenth weekly payments.

Anyone who refuses to take a drug test could not receive unemployment benefits under the proposal.

Similar legislation was filed in the 2011 session, but failed before a Senate committee.

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