CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) _ Developments on the fourth day of the Budget Session of the 2012 Wyoming Legislature, Thurs., Feb. 16, 2012:
DRUG TESTING: The House voted to consider a bill that would require people applying for certain welfare programs to pass a drug test. Anyone testing positive for drugs would be ineligible for benefits. House Bill 82 is sponsored by Rep. David Miller, R-Riverton, and others.
SEX OFFENDERS: The sponsor of a bill that would have prohibited sex offenders from residing near child care facilities withdrew it. Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Mountain View, told members of the House Judiciary Committee that House Bill 30 needed more work.
REDISTRICTING: The House for the second time approved a bill to set new legislative districts. The bill, House Bill 32, needs one more approval in the House before it heads to the Senate.
HATHAWAY SCHOLARS: The House declined to introduce a bill, House Bill 80, that would have required high schools to pay the cost of any remedial college classes required by their former students who receive money under the state's Hathaway scholarship program. The program gives money to students who do well in high school and go on to attend either the University of Wyoming or one of the state's community colleges.
WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION: The House voted not to consider a bill that would have authorized tribal police and officers with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to enforce state traffic laws as against non-Indians. House Bill 83 was sponsored by the Select Committee On Tribal Relations.
ETHANOL TAX CREDIT: The Senate for the second time voted to approve a bill, Senate File 8, that would repeal the gasoline tax credit for producers of ethanol. The bill is sponsored by the Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee
BAITING GAME: The Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow the state game commission to allow the baiting of game animals such as deer to allow hunters to kill them when they congregate in towns and other places. The bill, Senate File 17, would also allow the game commission to set regulations specifying appropriate calibers of guns and weights of bullets for hunting particular species of game. The bill is sponsored by the Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee.
