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DRUG TESTING

House Bill 646 (Act No. 1303) - State Elected Officials

bulletAll state and local elected officials will undergo random or voluntary drug testing bulletState Board of Ethics will develop a methodology for selecting officials to be tested bulletState judges will not have to undergo testing because they are not subject to the Ethics Code - they are subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct bulletThose refusing to take the test, or those testing positive, can be fined up to $10,000 bulletResults of drug tests are confidential, but a copy must be given to the elected official who is tested bulletThe elected official may make the information public bulletAnyone other than the elected official who releases the results can be fined up to $10,000 bulletIf tested positive a second time, test results will be released to the Board of Ethics bulletEffective January 1, 1998

House Bill 2435 (Act No. 1459) - Welfare, Contracts and Loans

bulletState Department of Social Services will implement a drug testing program for adults receiving cash welfare benefits bulletThose testing positive the first time will receive counseling and rehabilitation assistance, but will not lose welfare benefits bulletThose testing positive a second time will lose benefits bulletThe Commissioner of Administration will implement a drug testing program for anyone who receives anything of economic value from the state, including those awarded state contracts or loans bulletEffective January 1, 1998 contingent upon available funding

 

Gaming Measures

House Bill 2480 (Act No. 1467) - Computer-aided gambling

bulletOutlaws gambling with the aid of computers bulletIncludes gaming: bulletVia the Internet bulletWith the aid of other computer networks bulletWith the aid of computer software or any network server bulletExceptions are made for video poker devices and computer-aided gaming on riverboat casinos bulletNon-compliance with this law draws a penalty of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both bulletThe penalty for designing computer programs or games for gaming is a fine of up to $20,000, up to five years in jail, or both bulletEffective August 15, 1997

Senate Bill 1295 (Act No. 721) - Slot Machines at Horse Racing Tracks

bulletAllows local option elections in St. Landry, Bossier and Calcasieu parishes to determine if voters wish to allow slot machines on the premises of horse racing tracks in these parishes bulletMaximum number of machines allowed: 1,500 bulletA maximum of 15,000 square feet can be used for the machines bulletEffective July 9, 1997

 

For Your Information