004.00.93 Ark. Code R. 010

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

Rule 004.00.93-010 - Employee Drug Testing

202 Employee Drug Testing

I.AUTHORITY:

The Board of Correction is vested with the authority to promulgate Administrative Regulations by Act 50 of 1968, First Extraordinary Session, as amended.

II.PURPOSE:

To establish the policy on drug testing for specified employees of the Department of Correction and testing of applicants for employment.

III.APPLICABILITY:

To the Director, Warden/Center Supervisors/Administrators, any employee involved in the process of drug testing, all employees currently employed by the Department of Correction, and all applicants for employment.

IV.DEFINITIONS:

A.Specified Employees: Employees whose job duties may require the use of a firearm; who are in contact with the general inmate population; or employees who would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of themselves or others or to the safety and security of departmental operations if their general functioning was impaired. This may include contracted employees.

B.Reasonable Suspicion: Exists if specific objective facts and circumstances warrant rational inferences that a person is using or is under the influence of controlled substance. Reasonable suspicion may be based upon, among other matters:

1. Observable phenomena, such as direct observation of use and/or the physical symptoms of using or being under the influence of controlled substance such as, but not limited to, slurred speech, direct involvement in a serious accident and/or disorientation;

2. A pattern of abnormal conduct or erratic behavior; or

3. Information provided either by reliable and credible sources or which is independently corroborated.

Drug testing of specified employees based on reasonable suspicion shall be requested at the discretion of the Unit Warden/Center Supervisor/Administrator.

C.Serious Accident: While the employee is on duty, an accident that occurs which results in death, bodily injury, or serious property damage.

D.Controlled Substance: Mind-altering and/or addictive substance(s) included under the provisions of the United States Government's Controlled Substances Act of 1970, as amended. Examples include but are not limited to:

1. Opiates

2. Cocaine

3. Cannabinoids (i.e. marijuana, hashish)

4. Amphetamines

5. Barbiturates

6. Narcotics and hallucinogens (i.e. phencyclidine (PCP), Methaqualone (quaalude), peyote, LSD)

7. Benzodiazepines (i.e. Valium, Librium)

Also encompassed by this definition are substances not sold as drugs or medicines but which are used for mind-behavior-altering effect.

E.Illegal/Unlawful Drug Use: Any use of narcotics or controlled substances not prescribed by a physician or any other medications that may interfere with one's performance of duty; refers both to the use of unlawful drugs such as cocaine and the unlawful use' of prescription drugs.

F.Under The Influence: Any detectable level of a controlled substance in a urine specimen that results in a positive reading.

G.Rehabilitation Program: Refers to both in-patient and out-patient programs as well as Employee Assistance Programs and professionally required self-help programs.

V.POLICY:

It shall be the policy of the Board of Correction that a drug testing program be established for the testing of applicants and for the testing of specified employees of whom there is reasonable suspicion that the employee is under the influence of, or using, illegal and/or unlawful controlled substances.

VI. PROCEDURE:

A. Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides that an individual currently engaging in the illegal/unlawful use of drugs is not an individual with a disability when the employer or other covered entity acts on the basis of such use.

Individuals who are no longer illegally using drugs and who have either been rehabilitated successfully or are in the process of completing a rehabilitation program are considered individuals with a disability.

1. The Department of Correction is entitled to seek reasonable assurances that no illegal use of drugs is occurring or has occurred recently enough so that continuing use is a real and ongoing problem.

2. Applicants or employees may be asked to provide evidence that the individual is participating in a drug treatment program (i.e. drug test results).

B. Applicant Testing

1. Applicants who have been conditionally recommended for employment shall be required to provide a urine sample as part of the background investigation.

2. When employment testing is being administered by Central Personnel or unit/center designee, all applicants shall be notified of the Department's drug testing requirements and that they will be denied employment if test results are positive for illegal drug usage or if they refuse to provide a urine specimen or attempt to tamper with or adulterate the specimen.

At the request and expense of the applicant, a confirmation test of the positive preliminary result may occur.

3. If the applicant refuses to sign the consent form (F-202-1), the refusal shall be documented and the applicant shall be advised that he or she cannot be considered for employment for a twelve month period. Application may be resubmitted after this time.

4. All applicants shall be interviewed regarding present drug usage and shall be requested at the time of the test to complete a form listing prescription and over-the-counter drugs currently being used.

5. Each person being tested shall be required to produce acceptable verification of his or her identity.

B. Employee Testing

1. If any employee is required to take medicine or narcotics prescribed by a physician, the warden/center supervisor/administrator must be notified.

2. Specified employees for which it is determined reasonable suspicion exists shall be tested for unauthorized drug use.

3 . The testing procedure itself includes a preliminary test which, if positive, is followed by a confirmation test.

4. If a positive result occurs in an employee's specimen and as a result of an investigation and/or hearing, just cause is established, disciplinary action shall be imposed. Pursuant to the Administrative Regulation governing Employee Conduct Standards, disciplinary action up to and including termination may occur.

The Department fully supports the Employee Assistance Program and encourages employees to seek the confidential services of the assistance program.

5. If the preliminary test is positive, the employee will be notified, and a confirmation test conducted by another laboratory approved by the Department will occur. Also, the employee will be given, the opportunity to present evidence and/or information that the positive test resulted from prescribed or over-the-counter drugs, or that special circumstance may have affected the test results. The employee will be required to sign a release of information form in the event that a physician must be contacted for clarification or verification.

6. Refusal to provide a specimen, attempts to tamper or adulterate the specimen or positive results which cannot be justified, will result in the employee being placed on leave pending the results of the test and/or a disciplinary hearing.

C. . General Procedures

1. Employees shall be provided with a copy of this Administrative Regulation and are required to sign the form (F-202-2) acknowledging they have received a copy of the regulation and that they support the department's drug free workplace program.

2. Chain of custody documentation for each specimen shall be maintained from collection to analysis to destruction.

3. Records concerning test results of the employee will be maintained confidentially in a specified, secure location.

4. Confirmed positive urine samples shall be retained until the confirmation tests are complete.

5. The Training Academy shall include in its curriculum a course for all new officers enrolled in Basic Correctional Officers Training on the effects, consequences and indications of controlled substances.

The Training Academy will coordinate the disbursement of any updated materials on substance abuse to correctional supervisors and provide a record of distribution.

D. Testing Procedures

Testing procedures to include but not limited to collection kits, type of test required, collection of urine specimens and documentation of tests will be addressed in an Administrative Directive on Employee Drug Testing.

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Board of Correction Approval Date: 7/30/93

Attorney General Review Date: 7/30/93

Date Filed Secy, of State: 7/30/93

004.00.93 Ark. Code R. 010

8/6/1993