Florida Bill Would Drug Test State Workers

Florida lawmakers have passed what is believed to be the first bill in the United States that allows for the random drug testing of all state employees. Passed by the state house and senate, the bill is expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Scott and become law.

Florida has already taken the lead by becoming one of the first states in the nation to test anyone applying for public assistance.

The new Florida law is the first in the nation that would allow random drug testing of state employees without any specific suspicion that an individual is using drugs.

No Probable Cause Needed

The law would allow state employees to be randomly tested every three months.

The law also provides for procedures that would make it much easier to terminate a state employee who fails a drug test, even after the first confirmed test positive for drugs.

In June 2011, Florida began drug testing all applicants seeking help from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Both the law allowing for testing of welfare applicants and the new law allowing for random drug testing of state employees are expected to face legal challenges in the courts.

^{News Source: Fla. law 1st to Randomly Drug-Test State Workers}

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