Pass different kind of test to get scholarship?
Rep. Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, got an enthusiastic reception in the House Education Committee this morning for her bill to start a pilot project to give scholarships to kids who remain drug, alcohol and tobacco-free – and pass random drug tests to prove it. HB 503 would give “Key to the Future” scholarships of up to $1,000 a year for two years to students who have at least a 2.5 GPA or at least 20 on the ACT and meet the requirements. They’re also expected to remain drug, alcohol and tobacco-free through college, though the random drug testing wouldn’t continue beyond the junior and senior years of high school.
Rep. Liz Chavez, D-Lewiston, said she told two teens in her district about the idea, and “both of them said, ‘Well, finally. … Finally this is going to pay off.” Chavez said, “This just says thanks for doing the right thing for your body and for our society.”
Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, called it “a unique approach” and said it’s worked for athletes. “The omens of success look very good,” he said. Rep. Jerry Shively, D-Idaho Falls, said he’d support the bill, but said, “I kinda hate to pay people for what they’re supposed to do. … It’s like paying ‘em a dollar a day to eat their oatmeal.” Block countered that the same approach works for adults, as in car insurance rate incentives. “All that we are doing for prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco is not working,” Block told the committee. “Let’s try it – it’s a pilot project.” She said, “With this legislation, it is our hope that Idaho’s children will say, ‘I can’t do drugs with you, I can’t drink alcohol with you, I can’t smoke with you, I have to save my scholarship – and it will be my key to the future.”
Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, said, “I would’ve loved to get this, ‘cause I would’ve qualified for it.” Rep. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, said, “To me it’s refreshing to finally reward the normal kid. We do reward the poor; if they don’t have enough money they get scholarships to go to school. And we reward the straight-A student.” But, he said, the state does “nothing for the normal kid.”
The bill cleared the Education Committee on a unanimous vote and now heads to the full House.
