A few of the more controversial bills — such as those that would curb real-estate speculation or allow psychologists to prescribe certain prescription drugs — were debated on the floor, approved and sent to the other chamber.

EQUAL TREATMENT

The bill to extend health benefits to the unmarried partners of state employees would match an existing requirement for private-sector employers.

Private-sector employees were given these rights under a 1997 law, but legislators exempted state workers to save the state money.

The intent of the new bill is to provide equal treatment to state employees, said Rep. Sylvia Luke, who introduced the amendment.

She said her original bill got lost in the shuffle when it was intertwined with a civil-unions law that would give same-sex couples the same rights as married couples.

"This bill definitely has merit of its own and should not have been combined or related to the civil-unions bill," she said.

The measure is set for a full vote tomorrow. It will face further consideration in the state Senate.

The Senate also agreed to amendments yesterday to bills about drug testing of public-school teachers, and turning supermarkets and big-box retailers into redemption centers under the state's bottle law.

The amendments position the bills for a vote tomorrow. If approved, these bills also will move to the other chamber for further consideration.

Senators voted for an amendment to a bill that would require the state Department of Education to drug-test teachers and others who work with children when there is reasonable suspicion of drug use.

DRUG CONSEQUENCES

Teachers who refuse testing would be placed on administrative leave for 30 days. Teachers who test positive for drugs could face administrative leave, the potential revocation of their teaching certificate or losing their job. The department also could refer teachers for substance-abuse counseling.

State Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, cited recent cases where teachers have been suspected of using or trafficking in drugs. Hee also noted that Roger Takabayashi, the president of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association, has supported the reasonable-suspicion standard for drug testing.

"Whenever there is a disturbing development, such as the latest report of a public-school teacher arrested for a drug offense, public pressure mounts for a crackdown to prevent this from happening again," Hee said.

Senators also approved an amendment that would continue to exempt small retailers but would require supermarkets and big-box retailers to serve as redemption centers under the bottle law. Some lawmakers believe recycling would increase if consumers can bring back used bottles and cans to the larger stores for redemption.

Other bills moving forward are a few that aim at improved voter turnout by allowing permanent absentee voting and same-day registration; reinforce the state's regulations on dam inspection and maintenance; and create a felony charge for more than three prostitution convictions.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.