California lawmakers will weigh a bill that will require welfare applicants to be screened for drugs after a teen — disabled by his own mother's prenatal drug use — won a contest sponsored by his local assemblyman, The Desert Sun reports.
R.J. Feild, a sophomore with spastic triplegic cerebral palsy, won Assemblyman John J. Benoit's "There Ought to Be a Law" contest with a 500-word essay about his own life — born at 2 pounds, 2 ounces with traces of heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol in his body, the paper reports.
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"R.J.'s captivating story provided a clear reason why we need his law," Benoit, R-64th Dist., told The Desert Sun. ""I look forward to introducing 'R.J.'s Law' in this legislative session."
Feild's mother used alcohol and drugs while she was pregnant and on public assistance, the paper said.
The Jurupa Valley High School student, who uses a wheelchair to get around, will fly to Sacramento to formally introduce the bill on the Assembly floor, MyDesert.com reports.
Feild won the contest, in part, because his was the most compelling and feasible, the paper said.
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