Scott Still Thinking On School Prayer, Drug Testing Bills
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) - Two bills likely to end up in court if they are signed into law are still getting the once over, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday, and he declined to say definitively that he will sign them, even though he agrees with them in principal.
One bill is a hotly-debated measure allowing students to deliver public "inspirational messages," in schools. The bill specifically prohibits adults from getting involved in the process, provides virtually no limits about what students can say, and provides no real guidelines for implementation.
The only action school districts can take is the initial option to adopt the provisions, which are not a state requirement.
The second bill is a proposal allowing drug testing of state workers. Scott ordered drug testing of state employees last year, but the executive order was put on hold after a court challenge. The law covers much of the same ground but raises the same thorny legal issues that sent Scott's executive order into court.
Scott said he'll look at the two measures just as he will all the bills sent to him, but made it clear he agrees in principle with the ideas in those two. "Do I believe in prayer? I do," said Scott referring to the inspirational message bill. "Do I believe in having a qualified workforce? I do. But I'll look at all the bills."
