Bill punishes drug test cheaters
Feb 06, 2009 - 04:05:11 CST
The House voted 91-3 on Thursday to make using artificial or altered urine to dupe a drug test in North Dakota a Class A misdemeanor."These scoundrels must be punished," Rep. Arlo Schmidt, D-Maddock, said. "So we are not asking you to pass a watered-down bill."
Penalties of falsifying a drug test could include a $2,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
The bill, HB1244, now moves on to the Senate.
Schmidt was nominated by the Transportation Committee to carry the bill to the House floor.
"I wanted to add an amendment for a good whipping for making me carry this bill," he said with a chuckle.
Oil refineries
The House voted down a bill 59-35 on Thursday that would have provided state aid to help companies permit and cite potential oil refineries in North Dakota.
Rep. Dave Weiler, R-Bismarck, said the House Finance and Taxation committee did not recommend the bill, which would have set aside $750,000 in state funds, because two companies have spent the last five years working to establish refineries in the state without government aid.
Rep. Shirley Meyer, D-Dickinson, urged lawmakers to vote for the bill.
"We need to start adding value to our North Dakota crude," said Meyer, adding because of the nearly $10 discount on North Dakota oil, the state has lost about $17.3 million in potential oil revenue since September.
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