The state is accusing the public school teachers union of spreading false information about the drug testing of teachers that has yet to begin.

Marie Laderta, the state's chief negotiator, said Tuesday that the Hawaii State Teachers Association issued a membership newsletter that failed to inform its members of the union's latest position and misstated the scope of drug testing on members of other unions.

"The teachers and the public are being duped by current union leadership," Laderta said.

An after-hours call to the union was not immediately returned.

According to state officials, the teachers union is now saying those who hold commercial drivers licenses should be the only people who are randomly drug tested.

That testing is already federally mandated and has been in effect for the past 13 years, Deputy Attorney General Jim Halvorson said.

"This does not pass the laugh test," he said.

On July 18, the state filed a prohibited practice complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board after the HSTA said it couldn't agree to the testing of all teachers because of constitutional concerns.

Four days later, the teachers union said it would agree to random drug tests of teachers if the testing were limited to teachers with DUI convictions or chronic absences from school.

Frustrated state officials said the union is making excuses and not following the contract teachers ratified, accepting 11 percent pay raises over 18 months and the random testing for drug and alcohol abuse.

"The HSTA is not bargaining in good faith," Halvorson said. "This confirms our initial prohibited practice complaint."

Meanwhile, the state has failed to terms with the Board of Education over who will pay for the testing program. Each is looking to the other to come up with the money.