2003 Legislation
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SENATE BILL NO. 1049 – Alcohol/drug-free workplace

SENATE BILL NO. 1049

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S1049..........................................by COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE - Amends existing law to extend the
application of the provisions of the Idaho Employer Alcohol and Drug-Free
Workplace Act to all employers; to limit application in certain circumstances;
and to provide that the state of Idaho or any political subdivision of the
state that conducts drug and alcohol testing of all employees and prospective
employees for whom such testing is not constitutionally prohibited, shall
qualify for and may be granted the employer premium reduction.
                                                                        
01/31    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/03    Rpt prt - to Com/HuRes

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1049
                                                                        
                         BY COMMERCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE IDAHO EMPLOYER ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE  ACT;  AMENDING
  3        THE  HEADING  FOR  CHAPTER  17,  TITLE  72,  IDAHO  CODE; AMENDING SECTION
  4        72-1701, IDAHO CODE, TO REMOVE LANGUAGE REFERENCING ONLY  PRIVATE  EMPLOY-
  5        ERS;  AMENDING SECTION 72-1702, IDAHO CODE, TO REMOVE LANGUAGE REFERENCING
  6        ONLY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS LAWFUL TO  CONDUCT  DRUG  OR
  7        ALCOHOL  TESTING OF EMPLOYEES AND PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES UNDER CERTAIN CON-
  8        DITIONS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL  CORRECTION;  AMENDING  SECTIONS  72-1703,
  9        72-1704,  72-1705  AND 72-1706, IDAHO CODE, TO REMOVE LANGUAGE REFERENCING
 10        ONLY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS; AMENDING SECTION 72-1707, IDAHO  CODE,  TO  REMOVE
 11        LANGUAGE  REFERENCING ONLY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND TO PROVIDE CORRECT TERMI-
 12        NOLOGY;  AMENDING  SECTION  72-1708,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO   REMOVE   LANGUAGE
 13        REFERENCING ONLY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND TO RESTRICT APPLICATION OF THE SEC-
 14        TION;  AMENDING  SECTIONS  72-1710 AND 72-1711, IDAHO CODE, TO REMOVE LAN-
 15        GUAGE REFERENCING ONLY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND TO PROVIDE CORRECT  TERMINOL-
 16        OGY;  AMENDING SECTION 72-1712, IDAHO CODE, TO REMOVE LANGUAGE REFERENCING
 17        ONLY PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION;  AMENDING  SEC-
 18        TION  72-1714,  IDAHO  CODE,  TO  REMOVE LANGUAGE REFERENCING ONLY PRIVATE
 19        EMPLOYERS; AMENDING SECTION 72-1715, IDAHO CODE, TO LIMIT  APPLICATION  OF
 20        THE  SECTION;  AND  AMENDING  SECTION 72-1716, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT
 21        THE STATE OF IDAHO OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE THAT CONDUCTS
 22        DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING OF ALL EMPLOYEES AND  PROSPECTIVE  EMPLOYEES  FOR
 23        WHOM SUCH TESTING IS NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY PROHIBITED SHALL QUALIFY FOR AND
 24        MAY BE GRANTED THE EMPLOYER PREMIUM REDUCTION.
                                                                        
 25    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 26        SECTION 1.  That the Heading for Chapter 17, Title 72, Idaho Code, be, and
 27    the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 28                                      CHAPTER 17
 29              IDAHO PRIVATE EMPLOYER ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE ACT
                                                                        
 30        SECTION  2.  That  Section 72-1701, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 31    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 32        72-1701.  PURPOSE AND INTENT OF ACT. (1) The purpose of  this  act  is  to
 33    promote alcohol and drug-free workplaces and otherwise support private employ-
 34    ers  in  their  efforts  to  eliminate  substance  abuse in the workplace, and
 35    thereby enhance workplace safety and increase productivity.  This  act  estab-
 36    lishes  voluntary  drug  and  alcohol testing guidelines for private employers
 37    that, when complied with, will find an employee who tests positive  for  drugs
 38    or alcohol at fault, and will constitute misconduct under the employment secu-
 39    rity  law  as  provided  in section 72-1366, Idaho Code, thus resulting in the
 40    denial of unemployment benefits.
 41        (2)  It is the further purpose of this act to promote  alcohol  and  drug-
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    free workplaces in order that employers in this state be afforded the opportu-
  2    nity to maximize their levels of productivity, enhance their competitive posi-
  3    tions  in  the  marketplace  and reach their desired levels of success without
  4    experiencing the cost delays and tragedies associated with work-related  acci-
  5    dents resulting from substance abuse by employees.
                                                                        
  6        SECTION  3.  That  Section 72-1702, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  7    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  8        72-1702.  TESTING FOR DRUGS AND/OR ALCOHOL. (1) It is lawful for  an  pri-
  9    vate  employer  to test employees or prospective employees for the presence of
 10    drugs or alcohol as a condition of hiring or  continued  employment,  provided
 11    the  testing requirements and procedures are in compliance with 42 U.S.C. sec-
 12    tion 12101 and are otherwise constitutionally permissible.
 13        (2)  Nothing herein prohibits an private employer from using  the  results
 14    of  a  drug or alcohol test conducted by a third party including, but not lim-
 15    ited to, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, etc., as the basis for determin-
 16    ing whether an employee has committed misconduct.
 17        (3)  This act does not change the at-will status of any employee.
                                                                        
 18        SECTION 4.  That Section 72-1703, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 19    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 20        72-1703.  COST  OF  TESTING  OF CURRENT EMPLOYEES. (1) Any drug or alcohol
 21    testing by an private employer of current employees shall be deemed work  time
 22    for purposes of compensation.
 23        (2)  All costs of drug and alcohol testing for current employees conducted
 24    under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  unless  otherwise specified in section
 25    72-1706(2), Idaho Code, shall be paid by the private employer.
                                                                        
 26        SECTION 5.  That Section 72-1704, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 27    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 28        72-1704.  REQUIREMENTS  FOR SAMPLE COLLECTION AND TESTING. All sample col-
 29    lection and testing for drugs and alcohol under this act shall be performed in
 30    accordance with the following conditions:
 31        (1)  The collection of samples shall be  performed  under  reasonable  and
 32    sanitary conditions;
 33        (2)  The  private  employer or private employer's agent who is responsible
 34    for collecting the sample will be instructed as to the proper methods of  col-
 35    lection;
 36        (3)  Samples  shall be collected and tested with due regard to the privacy
 37    of the individual being tested and in a manner reasonably calculated  to  pre-
 38    vent  substitutions or interference with the collection or testing of reliable
 39    samples;
 40        (4)  Sample collection shall be documented and  the  documentation  proce-
 41    dures shall include:
 42        (a)  Labeling  of  samples so as reasonably to preclude the possibility of
 43        misidentification of the person tested in relation to the test result pro-
 44        vided; and
 45        (b)  Handling of samples in accordance  with  reasonable  chain-of-custody
 46        and confidentiality procedures;
 47        (5)  Sample collection, storage and transportation to the place of testing
 48    shall be performed so as reasonably to preclude the possibility of sample con-
 49    tamination and/or adulteration;
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1        (6)  Sample  testing  shall  conform to scientifically accepted analytical
  2    methods and procedures;
  3        (7)  Drug testing shall include a confirmatory test before the  result  of
  4    any  test  can be used as a basis for action by an private employer under sec-
  5    tions 72-1707 and 72-1708, Idaho Code. A confirmatory test refers to the  man-
  6    datory  second  or  additional  test of the same sample that is conducted by a
  7    laboratory utilizing a chromatographic technique such as  gas  chromatography-
  8    mass spectrometry or another comparable reliable analytical method;
  9        (8)  Positive  alcohol  tests  resulting from the use of an initial screen
 10    saliva test, must include a confirmatory test that utilizes a different  test-
 11    ing methodology meant to demonstrate a higher degree of reliability;
 12        (9)  Positive  alcohol  tests resulting from the use of a breath test must
 13    include a confirmatory breath test conducted no earlier than fifteen (15) min-
 14    utes after the initial test; or the use of any other confirmatory  test  meant
 15    to demonstrate a higher degree of reliability.
                                                                        
 16        SECTION  6.  That  Section 72-1705, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 17    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 18        72-1705.  PRIVATE  EMPLOYER'S  WRITTEN  TESTING  POLICY  --  PURPOSES  AND
 19    REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLECTION AND TESTING. (1)  An private employer must have  a
 20    written  policy  on  drug  and/or  alcohol testing that is consistent with the
 21    requirements of this act, including a statement that violation of  the  policy
 22    may result in termination due to misconduct.
 23        (2)  An  private employer will receive the full benefits of this act, even
 24    if its drug and alcohol testing policy does not conform to all of  the  statu-
 25    tory provisions, if it follows a drug or alcohol testing policy that was nego-
 26    tiated  with  its  employees'  collective bargaining representative or that is
 27    consistent with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
 28        (3)  Testing for the presence of drugs or alcohol by an  private  employer
 29    shall be carried out within the terms of a written policy that has been commu-
 30    nicated  to  affected  employees,  and  is available for review by prospective
 31    employees.
 32        (4)  The private employer must list the types of tests an employee may  be
 33    subject to in their written policy, which may include, but are not limited to,
 34    the following:
 35        (a)  Baseline;
 36        (b)  Preemployment;
 37        (c)  Post-accident;
 38        (d)  Random;
 39        (e)  Return to duty;
 40        (f)  Follow-up;
 41        (g)  Reasonable suspicion.
                                                                        
 42        SECTION  7.  That  Section 72-1706, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 43    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 44        72-1706.  RIGHT OF EMPLOYEE OR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE  TO  EXPLAIN  POSITIVE
 45    TEST  RESULT  AND REQUEST FOR RETEST. (1) Any employee or prospective employee
 46    who tests positive for drugs or alcohol must be given written notice  of  that
 47    test  result,  including  the  type  of  substance  involved,  by  the private
 48    employer. The employee must be given an opportunity to discuss and explain the
 49    positive test result with a medical review officer or other qualified person.
 50        (2)  Any employee or prospective employee who has a positive  test  result
 51    may   request that the same sample be retested by a mutually agreed upon labo-
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    ratory. A request for retest must be done within seven (7) working  days  from
  2    the date of the first confirmed positive test notification and may be paid for
  3    by  the  employee  or  prospective employee requesting the test. If the retest
  4    results in a negative test outcome, the private employer  will  reimburse  the
  5    cost  of the retest, compensate the employee for his time if suspended without
  6    pay, or if terminated solely because of the positive test, the employee  shall
  7    be reinstated with back pay.
                                                                        
  8        SECTION  8.  That  Section 72-1707, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
  9    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 10        72-1707.  DISCHARGE FOR WORK-RELATED MISCONDUCT -- FAILURE OR  REFUSAL  OF
 11    TESTING.  An  private employer establishes that an employee was discharged for
 12    work-related misconduct, as provided in section 72-1366, Idaho  Code,  upon  a
 13    showing that the employer has complied with the requirements of this act chap-
 14    ter and that the discharge was based on:
 15        (1)  A  confirmed  positive drug test or a positive alcohol test, as indi-
 16    cated by a test result of not less than .02 blood alcohol content  (BAC),  but
 17    greater than the level specified in the employer's substance abuse policy;
 18        (2)  The employee's refusal to provide a sample for testing; or
 19        (3)  The employee's alteration or attempt to alter a test sample by adding
 20    a  foreign  substance  for  the purpose of making the sample more difficult to
 21    analyze; or
 22        (4)  The employee's submission of a sample that is not his or her own.
                                                                        
 23        SECTION 9.  That Section 72-1708, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 24    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 25        72-1708.  PRIVATE  EMPLOYER'S DISCIPLINARY OR REHABILITATIVE ACTIONS BASED
 26    ON TESTING -- CLAIMANT INELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS. (1) Unless  otherwise  prohib-
 27    ited,  uUpon  receipt  of  a confirmed positive drug or alcohol test result or
 28    other proof which indicates a violation of an private employer's written  pol-
 29    icy,  or  upon the refusal of an employee to provide a test sample, or upon an
 30    employee's alteration of or  attempt  to  alter  a  test  sample,  an  private
 31    employer  may  use that test result or the employee's conduct as the basis for
 32    disciplinary or refusal-to-hire action that will result in a claimant's ineli-
 33    gibility to receive benefits under the provisions of section 72-1366(4),  (5),
 34    (6)  or  (7), Idaho Code. Actions by the private employer may include, but are
 35    not limited to, the following:
 36        (a)  A requirement that  the  employee  enroll  in  an  private  employer-
 37        approved  rehabilitation,  treatment,  or  counseling  program,  which may
 38        include additional drug or alcohol testing, as a  condition  of  continued
 39        employment;
 40        (b)  Suspension of the employee with or without pay for a period of time;
 41        (c)  Termination of the employee;
 42        (d)  Other   disciplinary   measures   in  conformance  with  the  private
 43        employer's usual procedures, including any  collective  bargaining  agree-
 44        ment.
 45        (2)  Action  taken  pursuant to this section shall not create any cause of
 46    action against the private employer.
                                                                        
 47        SECTION 10.  That Section 72-1710, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 48    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 49        72-1710.  LIMITATIONS  OF  EMPLOYER  LIABILITY.  (1)  No  cause  of action
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    arises in favor of any person based upon the absence of  an  private  employer
  2    established  program  or  policy of drug or alcohol testing in accordance with
  3    this act chapter.
  4        (2)  No cause or action arises in favor of any person against  an  private
  5    employer for any of the following:
  6        (a)  Failure  to  test for drugs or alcohol, or failure to test for a spe-
  7        cific drug or other substance;
  8        (b)  Failure to test for, or if tested, a failure to detect, any  specific
  9        drug or other physical abnormality, problem or defect of any kind; or
 10        (c)  Termination  or  suspension of any drug or alcohol testing program or
 11        policy.
                                                                        
 12        SECTION 11.  That Section 72-1711, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
 13    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14        72-1711.  FALSE  TEST  RESULT  -- PRESUMPTION AND LIMITATION OF DAMAGES IN
 15    CLAIM AGAINST PRIVATE EMPLOYER. (1)  No cause of action arises in favor of any
 16    person against an private employer who has established a program of  drug  and
 17    alcohol  testing  in  accordance  with this act chapter, and who has taken any
 18    action based on its established substance abuse and/or disciplinary  policies,
 19    unless the private employer's action was based on a false test result, and the
 20    private  employer  knew  or  clearly  should have known that the result was in
 21    error.
 22        (2)  In any claim where it is alleged that an  private  employer's  action
 23    was based on a false test result:
 24        (a)  There  is  a rebuttable presumption that the test result was valid if
 25        the private employer complied with  the  provisions  of  section  72-1704,
 26        Idaho Code;
 27        (b)  The  private employer is not liable for monetary damages if his reli-
 28        ance on a false test result was reasonable and in good faith; and
 29        (c)  There is no private employer liability for any action  taken  related
 30        to a "false negative" drug or alcohol test.
                                                                        
 31        SECTION  12.  That Section 72-1712, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 32    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 33        72-1712.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION. (1) All information, interviews,
 34    reports, statements, memoranda or test results, written or otherwise, received
 35    through a substance abuse testing program shall be kept confidential, and  are
 36    intended  to  be used only for an private employer's internal business use; or
 37    in a proceeding related to any action taken by or against an private  employer
 38    under  section  72-1707,  72,-1708  or  72-1711,  Idaho Code, or other dispute
 39    between the private employer and the employee or applicant; or as required  to
 40    be  disclosed by the United States department of transportation law or regula-
 41    tion or other federal law; or as required by service of legal process.
 42        (2)  The information described in subsection (1) of this section shall  be
 43    the property of the private employer.
 44        (3)  An  private  employer,  laboratory, medical review officer,  employee
 45    assistance program, drug or alcohol rehabilitation program and  their  agents,
 46    who  receive  or have access to information concerning test results shall keep
 47    the information confidential, except as provided in  subsection  (4)  of  this
 48    section.
 49        (4)  Nothing  in  this  chapter  prohibits  an private employer from using
 50    information concerning an employee or job  applicant's  substance  abuse  test
 51    results  in a lawful manner with respect to that employee or applicant as pro-
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1    vided in chapter 2, title 44, Idaho Code.
                                                                        
  2        SECTION 13.  That Section 72-1714, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
  3    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  4        72-1714.  NO  PHYSICIAN-PATIENT  RELATIONSHIP CREATED. A physician-patient
  5    relationship is not created between an employee or prospective  employee,  and
  6    the  private  employer or any person performing a drug or alcohol test, solely
  7    by the establishment of a drug or alcohol testing program in the workplace.
                                                                        
  8        SECTION 14.  That Section 72-1715, Idaho Code, be, and the same is  hereby
  9    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 10        72-1715.  PUBLIC ENTITIES MAY CONDUCT PROGRAMS. The state of Idaho and any
 11    political  subdivision thereof may conduct drug and alcohol testing of employ-
 12    ees under the provisions of this chapter  and  as  otherwise  constitutionally
 13    permitted.
                                                                        
 14        SECTION  15.  That Section 72-1716, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 15    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 16        72-1716.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ALCOHOL AND  DRUG-FREE  WORKPLACE  PROGRAM  --
 17    QUALIFICATION  OF  EMPLOYER PREMIUM REDUCTION. (1) For each policy of worker's
 18    compensation insurance issued or renewed in the state  on  or  after  July  1,
 19    1999,  a reduction in the premium for the policy may be granted if the insurer
 20    determines the insured has established and maintains an alcohol and  drug-free
 21    workplace  program  that  complies  with  the requirements of sections 72-1701
 22    through 72-1715, Idaho Code.
 23        (2)  The state of Idaho or any political subdivision thereof that conducts
 24    drug and alcohol testing of all those employees and prospective employees  for
 25    whom  such  testing  is not constitutionally prohibited shall qualify for, and
 26    may be granted, the employer premium reduction set forth in subsection (1)  of
 27    this section.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                 
                             RS 12726
                                 
The purpose of this legislation is to expand the Idaho Drug-Free
Workplace Act to include public employers.  It clarifies that all
employers, both public and private, may choose to have a Drug-Free
Workplace Program. It further establishes the components,
protections, and advantages afforded to all employers. Based upon
compliance with the Act, it provides for a reduction that may be
granted in the employer premium for each policy of workers
compensation insurance. This legislation also acknowledges that
public entities are limited by the restrictions of the U.S.
Constitution s Fourth Amendment.




                          FISCAL IMPACT
                                 
There is no fiscal impact.





Contact
              Name:    Senator Sheila A. Sorensen
                     Phone: 332-1319
              
       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                         S 1049