NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that would drug test people as a condition of receiving welfare advanced Wednesday evening in the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville passed the Senate Health and Welfare Committee 7-1. The legislation is different from an original proposal that would have broadly tested people.

In an opinion this week on that proposal and other pending bills that seek to drug test welfare recipients, Tennessee's attorney general said the requirement would violate federal laws regulating Social Security, the federal food stamp program and the state Medicaid plan.

In addition, the opinion said it would violate the constitutional rights of welfare recipients who have a right not to be drug tested unless there is suspicion that they are taking illicit drugs.

To get around the suspicion issue, Campfield's bill was amended to say individuals would be tested if they have been convi cted of violating the state's Drug Control Act in the last five years.

Campfield has said the bill could save the state at least a million dollars that would be used to help addicts recover from drug dependency.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," Campfield said after the vote.

The companion bill is awaiting a vote in a House subcommittee.