By KRWG News
New Mexico – A legislative leader is proposing to require drug testing for New Mexicans to qualify for unemployment benefits.
Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings introduced legislation on Tuesday that would require individuals to pass a drug test to become eligible for unemployment benefits.
The proposal by the Roswell Democrat would require applicants for jobless benefits to pay for the drug testing. If an individual failed or refused a drug test, they would be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits for 26 weeks but after that could apply again.
New Mexico's unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in November.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.