MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Endt

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-7-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL TYPES OF EMPLOYEE POSITIONS WITHIN THOSE THAT ARE SUBJECT TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 71-7-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

71-7-7. (1) Subject to the provisions of this chapter and any applicable collective bargaining agreement or contract, any nongovernment employer may require as a condition of employment or as a condition of continued employment that employees submit to neutral selection drug and alcohol testing.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, any government employer may require as a condition of employment or as a condition of continued employment that employees submit to neutral selection drug and alcohol testing; provided, however, that the employees tested and the criteria for such testing shall be determined by the government employer, based upon the extent to which the government employer:

(a) Is engaged in law enforcement;

(b) Has national or state security responsibilities;

(c) Has drug interdiction responsibilities; or

(d) Has positions which:

(i) Authorize employees to carry firearms;

(ii) Give employees access to sensitive information;

(iii) Authorize employees to engage in law enforcement;

(iv) Require employees, as a condition of employment, to obtain a security clearance; * * *

(v) Require employees to engage in activities affecting public health or safety; or

(vi) Require employees to supervise school children in a school setting or otherwise require employees to be near school children that the Legislature declares to be a safety sensitive position requiring employees to be drug and alcohol free.

(3) An employer may require an employee to submit to a drug and alcohol test if the test is conducted as part of a routinely scheduled employee fitness for duty medical examination that is part of the employer's established policy and/or which is scheduled routinely for all members of an employment classification or group.

(4) An employer may require an employee to submit to neutral selection or routine drug and alcohol tests if the employee in the course of his employment enters a drug abuse rehabilitation program, and as a follow-up to such rehabilitation, or if previous drug and alcohol testing of the employee within a twelve-month period resulted in a positive confirmed test result, or the drug and alcohol test is conducted in accordance with the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement or contract that permits the employer to administer drug and alcohol tests on a neutral selection or routine basis.

(5) If an employee is participating in drug abuse rehabilitation, drug and alcohol testing may be conducted by the rehabilitation provider as deemed appropriate by the provider.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.