Beumer's drug bill passes

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INDIANAPOLIS — A bill focused on prevention of cheating on drug tests moved forward Wednesday.

House Bill 1104, authored by Greg Beumer (R-Modoc), passed through the Indiana House of Representatives by a 91-0 vote. The bill bans synthetic urine, which can be used for “the purpose of defrauding an alcohol, drug, or urine screening test.”

Beumer, who represents all of Jay and Randolph counties and part of Delaware County, told The Commercial Review last month that his bill is an effort to address worker safety by making sure employees are not impaired while on the job. He reiterated those thoughts in a press release after the bill passed Wednesday.

“Indiana is experiencing a drug epidemic,” Beumer said. “The intent of this legislation is certainly not to make people lose their jobs over a failed drug test. It’s more about if you have a problem, let’s look at it and try to solve the problem. Employers also deserve to know if a job candidate is truly drug free.”

The measure would make the distribution, marketing, sale or transportation of synthetic urine a Class B misdemeanor. For repeat offenders, the charge would be bumped up to a Class A misdemeanor.

The bill has now moved to the Indiana Senate, where it is being sponsored by Sens. Jeff Raatz (R-Centerville), Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) and Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis).

Beumer had authored another drug-related bill that would allow the use of cannabidiol, a compound derived from cannabis, for those who deal with medical conditions such as epilepsy.

Since then, he has signed on as a co-author of a similar bill presented by Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy). That version of the legislation passed the house by a 173-98 vote and has since moved to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.