Will urine testing be required of Prop. 36 offenders? If so, how will it be paid for?
Judges can order urine testing of Prop. 36 offenders. The testing can be required as a condition of probation. The actual tests could be conducted by the treatment provider, probation department, or court staff – or some mixture of these – depending on the judge’s order. On April 2, 2001, Gov. Gray Davis announced the availability of $11.9 million in new federal funds that would be distributed to counties to pay for the costs of drug testing of Prop. 36 offenders, as well as for some other purposes. Also, pending now in the legislature is SB 223, a bill that would add another $18 million per year for additional drug testing of Prop. 36 offenders. (SB 223 passed on the Senate floor 35-2 on June 6.
