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H.B. 23 Enrolled
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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions related to an employer testing for drugs and alcohol.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . modifies terminology;
13 . clarifies effect of complying with the chapter;
14 . requires certain confirmation testing to be done by a certified laboratory;
15 . addresses grounds for employer action;
16 . addresses presumptions in applying employer protections from liability; and
17 . makes technical and conforming amendments.
18 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 34-38-1, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1987, Chapter 234
25 34-38-2, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1987, Chapter 234
26 34-38-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 107
27 34-38-6, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1987, Chapter 234
28 34-38-8, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1987, Chapter 234
29 34-38-10, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1987, Chapter 234
30 34-38-11, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1987, Chapter 234
31 34-38-14, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 73
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33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 34-38-1 is amended to read:
35 34-38-1. Legislative findings -- Purpose and intent of chapter.
36 (1) The Legislature finds that a healthy and productive work force, safe working
37 conditions free from the effects of drugs and alcohol, and maintenance of the quality of
38 products produced and services rendered in this state, are important to employers, employees,
39 and the general public. The Legislature further finds that the abuse of drugs and alcohol
40 creates a variety of workplace problems, including increased injuries on the job, increased
41 absenteeism, increased financial burden on health and benefit programs, increased workplace
42 theft, decreased employee morale, decreased productivity, and a decline in the quality of
43 products and services.
44 [
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47 (2) The Legislature does not intend to prohibit [
48 damages or job reinstatement, if action [
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50 Section 2. Section 34-38-2 is amended to read:
51 34-38-2. Definitions.
52 For purposes of this chapter:
53 (1) "Alcohol" means ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
54 (2) "Drugs" means [
55 Pharmacopoeia, the National Formulary, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia, or other drug
56 compendia, or supplement to any of those compendia.
57 (3) (a) "Employer" means [
58 public utility or transit district, [
59 the same business, or in or about the same establishment, under any contract of hire, express
60 or implied, oral or written.
61 (b) "Employer" does not include the federal or state government, or other local
62 political subdivisions.
63 (4) "Employee" means [
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65 (5) "Failed test" means a confirmed drug or alcohol test that indicates that the sample
66 tested is:
67 (a) positive;
68 (b) adulterated; or
69 (c) substituted.
70 (6) "Inaccurate test result" means a test result that is treated as a positive test result,
71 when the sample should not have resulted in a positive test result.
72 (7) "Licensed physician" means an individual who is licensed:
73 (a) as a doctor of medicine under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or
74 similar law of another state; or
75 (b) as an osteopathic physician or surgeon under Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah
76 Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, or similar law of another state.
77 [
78 individual who applies to an employer, [
79 become [
80 [
81 Section 3. Section 34-38-3 is amended to read:
82 34-38-3. Testing for drugs or alcohol.
83 (1) [
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86 employment, the employer is protected from liability as provided in this chapter if the
87 employer complies with this chapter. However, employers and management in general shall
88 submit to the testing themselves on a periodic basis.
89 (2) (a) [
90 transfer facility or [
91 greater than class C radioactive waste within the exterior boundaries of the state shall establish
92 a mandatory drug testing program regarding drugs and alcohol for prospective and existing
93 employees as a condition of hiring any employee or the continued employment of any
94 employee. As a part of the program, employers and management in general shall submit to the
95 testing themselves on a periodic basis. The program shall implement testing standards and
96 procedures established under Subsection (2)(b).
97 (b) The executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality, in
98 consultation with the Labor Commission under Section 34A-1-103 , shall by rule establish
99 standards for timing of testing and dosage for impairment for the drug and alcohol testing
100 program under this Subsection (2). The standards shall address the protection of the safety,
101 health, and welfare of the public.
102 Section 4. Section 34-38-6 is amended to read:
103 34-38-6. Requirements for collection and testing.
104 [
105 this chapter shall be performed in accordance with [
106 [
107 and sanitary conditions[
108 [
109 (a) with due regard to the privacy of the individual being tested[
110 (b) in a manner reasonably calculated to prevent substitutions or interference with the
111 collection or testing of a reliable [
112 [
113 documentation procedures [
114 (a) labeling of [
115 erroneous identification of test results; and
116 (b) an opportunity for the employee or prospective employee to provide notification of
117 any information [
118 the test, including:
119 (i) identification of currently or recently used prescription or nonprescription drugs[
120 or
121 (ii) other relevant medical information.
122 [
123 shall be performed so as reasonably to preclude the probability of sample contamination or
124 adulteration[
125 [
126 accepted analytical methods and procedures. [
127 (b) Before a test of a sample may be considered a failed test and used as a basis for an
128 action by an employer under Section 34-38-8 , testing of the sample shall include [
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130 (i) by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, or other
131 comparably reliable analytical method[
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133 (ii) if the sample used for a test is a urine sample, by a laboratory that is certified by
134 the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the National Laboratory
135 Certification Program.
136 Section 5. Section 34-38-8 is amended to read:
137 34-38-8. Employer's disciplinary or rehabilitative actions.
138 [
139 (1) An employer may take an action described in Subsection (2) if:
140 (a) the employer receives a test result that:
141 (i) indicates a failed test;
142 (ii) is confirmed as required by Subsection 34-38-6 (6); and
143 (iii) indicates a violation of the employer's written policy[
144 (b) an employee or prospective employee refuses to provide a sample[
145 (2) An employer may use [
146 the basis for disciplinary or rehabilitative actions, which may include the following:
147 [
148 rehabilitation, treatment, or counseling program, which may include additional drug or alcohol
149 testing, as a condition of continued employment;
150 [
151 [
152 [
153 [
154 procedures, including [
155 Section 6. Section 34-38-10 is amended to read:
156 34-38-10. A cause of action does not arise against employer unless inaccurate
157 test result -- Presumption and limitation of damages in claim against employer.
158 (1) [
159 employer who [
160 with this chapter, and who [
161 [
162 inaccurate test result.
163 (2) [
164 34-38-11 , [
165 inaccurate test result:
166 (a) there is a rebuttable presumption that the test result [
167 [
168 (b) the employer is not liable for monetary damages if [
169 [
170 (3) (a) There is a rebuttable presumption that the employer complies with Section
171 34-38-6 if as part of the employer's drug and alcohol testing program a licensed physician who
172 is trained in the interpretation of drug and alcohol test results:
173 (i) provides medical assessment of a result that indicates a failed test;
174 (ii) requests re-analysis of a test result if necessary; and
175 (iii) makes a determination whether or not alcohol or other drug use has occurred.
176 (b) A court may find that an employer complies with Section 34-38-6 notwithstanding
177 that the employer's drug and alcohol testing program does not include an action described in
178 Subsection (3)(a).
179 Section 7. Section 34-38-11 is amended to read:
180 34-38-11. Bases for cause of action for defamation, libel, slander, or damage to
181 reputation.
182 No cause of action for defamation of character, libel, slander, or damage to reputation
183 arises in favor of any person against an employer who has established a program of drug or
184 alcohol testing in accordance with this chapter, unless:
185 (1) the results of that test were disclosed to any person other than the employer, an
186 authorized employee or agent of the employer, the tested employee, or the tested prospective
187 employee;
188 (2) the information disclosed [
189 (3) [
190 (4) all elements of an action for defamation of character, libel, slander, or damage to
191 reputation as established by statute or common law, are satisfied.
192 Section 8. Section 34-38-14 is amended to read:
193 34-38-14. Employee not "disabled."
194 An employee or prospective employee whose drug or alcohol test [
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196 because of those results alone, be defined as a person with a "disability" for purposes of Title
197 34A, Chapter 5, Utah Antidiscrimination Act.
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