After a constituent approached Rep. Scott Sifton, D-District 96, with concerns about a family member on probation “beating” urine analysis drug tests, he started looking into alternative tests.
“Supposedly, there are ways that that can be done,” Sifton said. “I don’t know, I just took Nancy Reagan’s advice: ‘Just say no to drugs.'”
Sifton’s HB 1614 implements hair follicle testing for 10 percent of violent offenders in Missouri. He said hair follicle testing is more accurate than urine analysis, but there are some downsides.
“Long story short, hair follicle testing is more accurate, but it tests for fewer substances and it costs a lot more,” he said.
Because of the cost of hair follicle testing, the state cannot afford to solely do those tests. To make the bill more affordable, Sifton said making hair follicle testing random for a smaller number of offenders was necessary.
“It’s only going to be one in 10 tests that are by hair follicle, nine in 10 will remain urine analysis,” he said. “That way people are living under the threat that if they think they can beat the urine analysis, their number may come up and they may get caught anyway with hair follicle (testing).”
The state contracts urine analysis tests at about $7 and hair follicle testing at $55, Sifton said. The cost differential between doing only urine analysis testing and adding random hair follicle testing will be about $30,000.
Sifton said he hopes the bill will lead to more accurate testing, as well as deter parolees from continuing drug use.
“(I want to provide) some assurance that if they violate the terms of their probation or parole by using drugs, they will get caught,” he said. “Hopefully, we deter them from breaking the law.”