Chapter 11-324

Chapter 324

2011 -- H 5944

Enacted 07/12/11

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - URINE AND BLOOD TESTS

Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Guthrie, Gallison, DaSilva, and Azzinaro

Date Introduced: March 17, 2011

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 28-6.5-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-6.5 entitled "Urine and

Blood Tests as a Condition of Employment" is hereby amended to read as follows:

28-6.5-1. Testing permitted only in accordance with this section. -- (a) No employer

or agent of any employer shall, either orally or in writing, request, require, or subject any

employee to submit a sample of his or her urine, blood, or other bodily fluid or tissue for testing

as a condition of continued employment unless that test is administered in accordance with the

provisions of this section. Employers may require that an employee submit to a drug test if:

(1) The employer has reasonable grounds to believe based on specific aspects of the

employee's job performance and specific contemporaneous observations, capable of being

articulated, concerning the employee's appearance, behavior or speech that the employee's use of

controlled substances is impairing his or her ability to perform his or her job;

(2) The employee provides the test sample in private, outside the presence of any person;

(3) Employees testing positive are not terminated on that basis, but are instead referred to

a substance abuse professional (a licensed physician with knowledge and clinical experience in

the diagnosis and treatment of drug related disorders, a licensed or certified psychologist, social

worker, or EAP professional with like knowledge, or a substance abuse counselor certified by the

National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (all of whom shall be licensed in

Rhode Island)) for assistance; provided, that additional testing may be required by the employer

in accordance with this referral, and an employee whose testing indicates any continued use of

controlled substances despite treatment may be terminated;

(4) Positive tests of urine, blood or any other bodily fluid or tissue are confirmed by a

federally certified laboratory by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or technology

recognized as being at least as scientifically accurate;

(5) The employer provides the employee, at the employer's expense, the opportunity to

have the sample tested or evaluated by an independent testing facility and so advises the

employee;

(6) The employer provides the employee with a reasonable opportunity to rebut or

explain the results;

(7) The employer has promulgated a drug abuse prevention policy which complies with

requirements of this chapter; and

(8) The employer keeps the results of any test confidential, except for disclosing the

results of a "positive" test only to other employees with a job-related need to know, and to defend

against any legal action brought by the employee against the employer.

(b) Any employer who subjects any person employed by him or her to this test, or

causes, directly or indirectly, any employee to take the test, except as provided for by this chapter,

shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars

($1,000) or not more than one year in jail, or both.

(1) Award punitive damages to a prevailing employee in addition to any award of actual

damages;

(2) Award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs to a prevailing employee; and

(3) Afford injunctive relief against any employer who commits or proposes to commit a

violation of this section.

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impair or affect the rights of individuals

under chapter 5 of this title.

(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:

(1) Prohibit or apply to the testing of drivers regulated under 49 C.F.R. section 40.1 et

seq and 49 C.F.R. part 382 if that testing is performed pursuant to a policy mandated by the

federal government; or

(2) Prohibit an employer in the public utility or mass transportation industry from

requiring testing otherwise barred by this chapter if that testing is explicitly mandated by federal

regulation or statute as a condition for the continued receipt of federal funds.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this chapter shall not apply to members of the

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers and its

signatory contractors jointly participating in the IMPACT National Substance Abuse Program for

purposes of pre-qualifying workers for employment on and ensuring the maintenance of

designated drug free work sites; provided, however, that:

(1) Participation by each worker is voluntary; and

(2) Workers who refuse to participate shall not be subjected to any adverse employment

action other than an inability to work on a designated drug free work site; and

(3) The penalty for a first "positive" test shall not exceed a thirty (30) day suspension

from work on designated drug free work sites.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02214

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