DALLAS COUNCIL APPROVES MANDATORY DRUG TESTING

The Dallas City Council last week approved mandatory drug tests for city employees but did not extend the policy to itself. The council instead approved a measure asking members to take voluntary drug tests.

The drug policy for city employees takes effect Oct. 1 and stipulates that all people applying for ``safety sensitive'' positions - such as driver, mechanic, and maintenance worker - must take drug and alcohol tests to be hired. About two-thirds of city jobs are affected.

On Tuesday, the US Supreme Court upheld drug testing for railway workers involved in accidents, and, by a narrower margin, for Customs Service workers seeking assignments as drug enforcement agents or in jobs requiring them to carry firearms.