Hear what students think about the idea

BOISE -- Should Idaho pay kids to stay off drugs?

Some lawmakers say it would be money well spent, and once again the idea is being discussed.

If it gets through all the legislative hurdles, the plan would require clean drug tests and good grades for a $2,000 scholarship payoff.

This legislation has been presented twice before.  It passed the House, but failed in the Senate last year. 

The bill's sponsor isn't giving up and hopes modifications to the scholarship plan will finally bring success.

Whether it's alcohol, tobacco or drugs, the temptation to try can often be too much for a teenager.

But now Twin Falls Rep. Sharon Block is hoping to pass a bill that would pay teens to say “no.”

"We do need to encourage our young people to not get into substance abuse and we do have a big problem with methamphetamine and underage drinking, plus we need more Idaho students to go to college," said Block.

Teens would have to agree to random drug testing and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.

If they do that they would receive a $2,000 scholarship to be spent at any Idaho college or university.  And their high school would get $200 per participating student.

"A lot of kids that do drugs at Boise High, have resigned their futures, and this would give them a ray of light and some hope, maybe an idea that they can keep going and move on past high school," said Ian Brune, Boise High sophomore.

The legislation would start as an eight-year pilot program with three schools - one small, medium and large.  And if successful, Block hopes it will expand throughout the entire state.  

The estimated cost would be around $600,000 the first year, and $1 million every year after.

"It's like a reward for doing something good for yourself, instead of a punishment for doing bad, I think it'd be good," said Nina Thiebert, Boise High junior.

"Our society doesn't have any good reinforcements, they are all just punishments, you could look at as the government is doing something for you, instead of like, if you're doing something bad they are punishing you," said Demmi Netson, Boise High senior.

If the bill makes it into law, the pilot program would run from 2009 to 2017.