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Steroid Testing /
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Texas House approves plan for high school steroid testing
Texas House approves plan for high school steroid testing
May 22, 2007
AUSTIN, TEXAS Mandatory random steroid testing of Texas public school athletes got a boost yesterday when the state House of Representatives tentatively approved a plan to start before next football season.
The Senate already has passed a similar version, and once the House takes an expected final vote today, the only obstacle will be deciding who pays for it: the state or the ticket-buying public.
If approved, Texas would have the largest high school steroid testing program in the country, targeting at least 22,000 students a year at a cost of about $4 million per year. Athletes in every sport would be subject to testing.
The Senate version calls for the state to pay for the program. The House version would apply a fee to the cost of high school football and basketball games, a method some critics have called a "ticket tax."
Rep. Dan Flynn, a Republican and the House sponsor of the measure, said he's determined to get the bill passed and to Gov. Rick Perry and expects to meet soon with senators to negotiate a final version. The legislative session ends Monday.
"This is an opportunity to go in and do something for our kids," Flynn said.
New Jersey became the first state in the country to start a statewide testing policy for high school athletes last year. Two weeks ago, Florida lawmakers approved a one-year pilot program to test 1 percent of high school athletes who compete in football, baseball and weightlifting.
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