908 KAR 3:190. Drug testing procedures at a
state-operated facility for persons with mental illness or mental retardation.
RELATES TO: KRS 218A.050, 218A.070, 41 U.S.C. 701 -707
STATUTORY AUTHORITY KRS 194A.050, 210.010, 210.040,
210.055, 210.285
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 210.010
authorizes the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to
prescribe administrative regulations for the administration of the cabinet and
of the institutions under the control of the cabinet. KRS 194A.050 also
empowers the secretary to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out
cabinet programs. This administrative regulation establishes the procedures for
the drug testing of employees and contractors of state-operated institutions
for persons with mental illness or mental retardation.
Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Administrator on
duty" means a facility employee charged with decision-making authority for
the facility during the employee’s given work shift.
(2) "Applicant" means an individual seeking
employment in a test-designated position at a facility operated by the department.
(3) "Appointing authority" means the
Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or his designee
(4) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of
the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services or the commissioner's
designee.
(5) "Confirmatory test" means a second
analytical procedure to identify the presence of a specific drug or metabolite
which is independent of the initial test and which uses a different technique
and chemical principle from that of the initial test in order to ensure reliability
and accuracy
(6) Controlled substance is defined in KRS
218A.010(5).
(7) "Department" means the Department for
Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services.
(8) "Dilute specimen" means a drug test
urine specimen in which the creatinine concentration is less than 20 mg/dL and
the specific gravity is less than 1.003.
(9) "Donor" means the individual from whom a
urine specimen is collected.
(10) "Drug" is defined in KRS 218A.010(11).
(11) "Employee" means a person employed at
or by a facility for the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness
or mental retardation operated by the department.
(12) "Initial test" means an immunoassay
test to eliminate negative urine specimens from further consideration and to
identify the presumptively positive specimens that require confirmation or
further testing.
(13) "Failed drug test" means a circumstance
in which a test-designated employee, who is directed to submit to a drug test,
engages in any of the following actions:
(a) Fails to submit to or complete a drug test;
(b) Interferes with a drug test procedure;
(c) Tampers with a drug test specimen; or
(d) Has a second drug test conducted pursuant to
Section 13(1) of this administrative regulation reported as a dilute specimen.
(14) "Negative drug test" means the results
of a drug test administered with a test-designated employee in which the drug
test specimens test below the cutoff levels as specified in the "Mandatory
Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs"
(15) "Officer" means the Drug Testing
Coordinating Officer designated by each department operated facility or the
officer's designee.
(16) "On duty" means being engaged in the
performance of work responsibilities for the employer.
(17) "Positive drug test" means the results
of a drug test administered with a test-designated employee in which the drug
test specimens test at or above the cutoff levels as specified in the
"Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs".
(18) "Random selection" means a
statistically valid computer generated procedure utilized to determine
test-designated employees selected to submit to random drug testing.
(19) "Reasonable suspicion" means the
quantity of proof or evidence, based on specific, objective facts and
rationally derived inferences from those facts about the conduct of an
individual that would lead a reasonable person, based upon his training and experience,
to suspect that the individual has been misusing or abusing a controlled
substance or a prescription or nonprescription medication in violation of this
administrative regulation.
(20) "Return to duty" means the
circumstances and conditions under which a test-designated employee is allowed
to resume the employee's regular work duties if the employees has had a positive
or failed drug test result reported or has voluntarily disclosed the abuse or
misuse of a controlled substance, prescription medication, or nonprescription
medication, and has met the criteria specified in Section 5(3) of this
administrative regulation.
(21) "Sample" means a representative portion
of a urine specimen or quality control sample used for testing.
(22) "Specimen" means the portion of urine
that is collected from a donor during a drug test.
(23) "Test-designated employee" means an
individual employed at or by a facility for the care and treatment of
individuals with mental illness or mental retardation operated by the department
and who meets any of the following conditions:
(a) Provides direct health care or treatment services
to a resident of the facility;
(b) Has regular unsupervised access to residents of
the facility; or
(c) Has unsupervised access to controlled substances.
(24) "Voluntary disclosure" means the
willful and uncoerced admission by a test-designated employee concerning his misuse
or abuse of a controlled substance or prescription or nonprescription
medication or that the employee has entered into substance abuse treatment.
Section 2. Applicability. (1) The department shall implement
a test-designated facility employee drug testing program in accordance with the
provisions of this administrative regulation and the "Mandatory Guidelines
for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs".
(2) This administrative regulation applies to
test-designated applicants and test-designated employees at a facility for the
care and treatment of individuals with mental illness or mental retardation operated
by the department.
Section 3. Facility Drug Testing Program. (1) Each
department-operated facility shall establish and operate a test-designated employee
drug testing program. This program shall be implemented in accordance with this
administrative regulation.
(2) As part of this program, each facility shall
designate a drug testing coordinating officer.
(3) Each officer shall:
(a) Serve as the primary point of contact for facility
test-designated employee drug testing purposes between the officer's respective
facility and the department and between the officer's respective facility and
the drug testing vendor;
(b) Coordinate all facility test-designated employee
drug testing activities for the officer's respective facility;
(c) Prepare and update approximately quarterly a
master roster of all test-designated employees at the officer's respective
facility. This roster shall include both state employees and contract employees;
(d) Submit the initial and updated master rosters
approximately quarterly to the designated contact person with the contracted vendor
of drug testing services;
(e) Serve as the employee designated at each facility
to receive drug testing results from the drug testing vendor;
(f) Ensure that an appropriate on-site drug testing
area is prepared and maintained at the facility; and
(g) Maintain all records pertaining to the facility’s
drug testing program in a secure and confidential manner. Information contained
in these records shall not be disclosed unless authorized by subsection (7) of
this section.
(4) The roster prepared pursuant to subsection (3)(c)
of this section, shall include the following information concerning each employee:
(a) The employee’s name;
(b) The employee’s job title; and
(c) The employee’s regularly scheduled work shift.
(5) The officer shall, within two (2) working days of
receiving drug testing results or notice of a voluntary disclosure, report
these results in writing to their facility director. The officer shall also
report in writing to the commissioner within two (2) working days of receiving
the drug testing results or notice of a voluntary disclosure, the following
information concerning a facility employee who had a positive drug test result
reported, failed a drug test or voluntarily disclosed his misuse or abuse of a
controlled substance or prescription or nonprescription medication:
(a) The employee’s name;
(b) The employee’s job title;
(c) The results of the employee’s drug test;
(d) The type of drug test that occurred;
(e) The date the employee was placed on directed sick
leave status; and
(f) Whether disciplinary action will be pursued.
(6) Except as provided in Section 5(3)(b) of this
administrative regulation, all costs associated with conducting preemployment
drug testing of prospective test-designated state employees and random and
reasonable suspicion drug testing shall be borne by the respective facility
requesting the drug testing. Beginning July 1, 2006, all costs associated with
conducting preemployment drug testing of prospective test-designated contract
employees shall be borne by the contract agency.
(7) Except as required by KRS 61.870 - 61.884 or
expressly authorized or required in this section, the appointing authority or
anyone with knowledge shall not release employee information that is contained
in the records maintained pursuant to this administrative regulation.
(8) An employee subject to testing shall be entitled,
upon written request, to obtain copies of records pertaining to the employee's
drug tests. The appointing authority shall promptly provide the records
requested by the employee.
(9) The appointing authority may disclose information
required to be maintained under this administrative regulation pertaining to an
employee to that employee or to the decision-maker in a lawsuit, grievance, or
other proceeding initiated by the employee, and arising from the results of a
drug test administered under the provisions of this administrative regulation,
or from the appointing authority's determination that the employee engaged in
prohibited conduct (including a worker's compensation, unemployment
compensation, or other proceeding relating to a benefit sought by the
employee).
(10) The appointing authority shall release
information regarding an employee's records as directed by the specific, written
consent of the employee authorizing release of the information to an identified
person. Release of this information shall be in accordance with the terms of
the employee's consent.
Section 4. Testing of Test-designated Facility
Employees. (1) The appointing authority shall require a test-designated employee,
as a condition of prospective or continued employment, to be subject to a drug
test as provided in this administrative regulation.
(2) Tests authorized. The following categories of
test-designated employee drug testing shall be authorized in accordance with Section
9 of this administrative regulation:
(a) Reasonable suspicion testing;.
(b) Preappointment testing;.
(c) Follow-up testing; and.
(d) Random selection testing;.
Section 5. Positive Drug Test Results or Failed Drug
Test. A test-designated employee who has a positive drug test result reported
or who failed a drug test shall be immediately removed from his work duties and
the employee shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including
dismissal.
(2) A test-designated employee who has a positive drug
test result or who failed a drug test shall be:
(a) Informed of the positive drug test result or the
failed drug test;
(b) Informed that the facility director is placing the
employee on directed sick leave status if a state employee;
(c) Instructed to leave the facility campus
immediately. A state employee shall receive the notice of directed sick leave
prior to being instructed to leave the facility campus; and
(d) Informed that disciplinary action, up to and
including dismissal, shall be initiated.
(3) If the resulting disciplinary action specified in
subsection (2)(d) of this section is less than dismissal, the employee shall be
allowed to return to duty if he provides:
(a) Written documentation, sent directly to the
officer from a substance abuse treatment provider verifying that the employee
has been evaluated, is compliant with the recommendations of the provider, and
that the employee is safe to return to work. The officer shall offer to assist
the employee in obtaining substance abuse treatment services; and
(b) Written documentation that he has successfully
passed, at his own expense, a drug test from a vendor approved by the officer.
This return to duty documentation shall be sent directly from the vendor to the
officer.
(4) An employee who was subject to the conditions of
Section 4(2) of this administrative regulation and subsection (2)(d) of this
section and who subsequently has a second positive drug test result or who
fails a drug test shall be:
(a) Informed of the positive drug test result or the
failed drug test;
(b) Informed that the facility director is placing
them on directed sick leave status if a state employee;
(c) Instructed to leave the facility campus
immediately. A state employee shall receive the notice of directed sick leave
prior to being instructed to leave the facility campus; and
(d) Informed that disciplinary action to seek
dismissal is being initiated.
(5) this administrative regulation shall not alter the
contract agreement between each facility and their contract vendors.
Section 6. Prohibited Behavior. An employee shall not
engage in the following activities while on duty or on facility grounds:
(1) The unlawful manufacture, distribution, sale,
dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance;
(2) Consuming or under the influence of a controlled
substance illegally obtained;
(3) The use, misuse, or abuse of prescription or nonprescription
medication in a quantity or manner sufficient to impair a test-designated
employee’s ability to perform assigned duties or in any way that places patient
or fellow employee safety at risk; or
(4) Interfering with a testing procedure or tampering
with a test sample.
Section 7. Voluntary Disclosure. (1) A test-designated
state employee who voluntarily discloses the misuse or abuse of a controlled
substance or prescription or nonprescription medication shall:
(a) Not be disciplined for self disclosure reporting
provided that the self disclosure occurred prior to either of the following:
1. A determination being made that reasonable
suspicion drug testing is to occur; or
2. The employee being selected for follow-up or random
drug testing;
(b) Receive written notice that the employee is being
placed on directed sick leave status if a state employee;
(c) Be directed to leave the facility campus
immediately; and
(d) Be subject to the provisions of Sections 4(2)(c)
and 5 and of this administrative regulation.
(2) A test-designated state employee who voluntarily
discloses that he has entered into substance abuse treatment shall:
(a) Not be disciplined for self disclosure reporting
provided that the self disclosure occurred prior to either of the following:
1. A determination being made that reasonable
suspicion drug testing shall occur; or
2. The employee being selected for follow-up or random
drug testing;
(b) Be informed that he shall be required to submit to
follow-up drug testing; and
(c) Not provide direct care services until the
follow-up drug test results are reported.
(3) A test-designated state employee may take
advantage of opportunities specified in subsection (1) of this section no more
often than two (2) times while employed at a facility. A state employee making
a voluntary disclosure shall not be excused from a subsequent drug test or from
otherwise complying in full with this administrative regulation. A state
employee making a voluntary disclosure shall remain subject to drug testing
requirements after making the disclosure and shall be subject to disciplinary
action as a result of a subsequent positive drug test result report or a failed
drug test.
(4) A test-designated employee of a contract agency
who:
(a) Voluntarily discloses the misuse or abuse of a controlled
substance or prescription or nonprescription medication or that he has entered
into substance abuse treatment shall be informed that his employing agency
shall be notified of the employee’s self disclosure;
(b) Voluntarily discloses the misuse or abuse of a controlled
substance or prescription or nonprescription medication or that he has entered
into substance abuse treatment and dismissal does not occur shall be subject to
follow-up drug testing;
(c) Voluntarily discloses the misuse or abuse of a controlled
substance or prescription or nonprescription medication shall be instructed to
leave the facility campus immediately and shall be informed that he shall not
be allowed to return to work until he is in compliance with Section 5(3) of
this administrative regulation.
(5) An employing agency, having been notified pursuant
to subsection (4)(a) of this section, shall make a determination as to what
disciplinary action, if any, shall be initiated with its employee, as well as
any other condition for continued employment with the agency.
(6) The officer shall offer to assist a
test-designated employee who voluntarily discloses the misuse or abuse of a
controlled substance or prescription or nonprescription medication in obtaining
substance abuse treatment services.
Section 8. Facility Employee Notification. (1) New
test-designated facility employees shall receive information and training
concerning this administrative regulation as part of the employee’s initial
orientation training.
(2) Current test-designated facility employees shall
receive information and training concerning this administrative regulation
prior to implementation of the test-designated employee drug testing program.
(3) Information and training provided pursuant to
subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall include:
(a) Information regarding the type and nature of
services and supports available through the Kentucky Employee Assistance Program;
(b) How to access these services and supports; and
(c) The availability of and how to access other local
or regional substance abuse treatment services.
(4) The human resources office within each facility
shall maintain documentation that all employees have received information and
training concerning this administrative regulation.
(5) A test-designated facility employee shall sign a
document certifying:
(a) Receipt of information and training concerning
this administrative regulation;
(b) An understanding of the requirements, limitations,
and restrictions on facility employee conduct contained in this administrative
regulation; and
(c) An understanding of the potential consequences, up
to and including dismissal, for violation of this administrative regulation.
Section 9. Drug Testing Guidelines. (1) Random drug
testing of test-designated employees shall occur under the following guidelines:
(a) On-site random drug testing of test-designated
employees shall occur on approximately a quarterly basis;
(b)1. The commissioner shall determine:
a. The number and rate of test-designated employees
who shall be directed to submit to random drug testing; and
b. The number of random drug tests to be conducted in
a given facility in any one (1) year;
2. The number of random drug tests conducted in a
given facility shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the number of all
test-designated employees within the facility in any one (1) year.
(c) Following consultation with and approval by the
officer's respective facility director and the commissioner, the officer shall
contact the designated contract vendor contact person to schedule and make
arrangements for the next session of on-site random drug testing;
(d) The contract vendor shall provide the officer with
a roster of the names of employees randomly selected to participate in the next
session of on-site random drug testing at least two (2) weeks prior to the
scheduled testing date. This roster shall include a sufficient number of
alternate selections so as to allow for those employees originally selected to
submit to random drug testing and who, for whatever reason, did not report to
work on the scheduled testing date. The officer shall not disclose to any
test-designated employee selected for testing the date and time of the
scheduled random drug test prior to the date and time the employee is to report
for testing;
(e) The officer, following consultation with and
approval by his facility director, shall make adequate arrangements to ensure
the ongoing orderly operation of the facility while the random drug testing is
occurring. These arrangements shall include a master schedule of the order and
time when selected employees shall be tested. This information shall not be
shared with any employee or supervisor prior to the test date except in
accordance with paragraph (f) of this subsection;
(f) The officer shall inform only those facility
employees deemed to be absolutely necessary as to date and time of the next
scheduled session of on-site random drug testing. A test-designated employee
scheduled for testing shall not be notified that he has been selected for
testing until the specified time and date the employee is to report for
testing;
(g) Upon the date of the next scheduled session of
on-site random drug testing, the officer shall inform a test-designated employee
selected for random drug testing that he has been selected to submit to on-site
random drug testing. This notification shall be made utilizing the highest
possible degree of discretion and respect for the employee;
(h) The officer shall ensure that each test-designated
employee selected for random drug testing shall arrive at the facility drug testing
site at his scheduled time and shall monitor throughout the donor process; and
(i) A test-designated employee selected for random
drug testing shall return to his regularly assigned job duties upon successful
completion of the donor process.
(2) Reasonable suspicion drug testing of
test-designated employees shall occur under the following guidelines:
(a) A test-designated employee shall be subject to
drug testing if there is reasonable suspicion that the employee has abused or
misused a controlled substance, prescription medication, or nonprescription
medication as prohibited in this administrative regulation;
(b) Reasonable suspicion drug testing shall take place
as soon as possible following the determination that reasonable suspicion
exists. This testing shall take place on-site at the facility;
(c) A test-designated employee required to submit to
reasonable suspicion drug testing shall not provide direct care services until
the drug test results have been reported;
(d) A determination that reasonable suspicion exists
to require a test-designated employee to submit to drug testing shall be based
on specific, immediate and clearly describable observations concerning the
employee’s appearance, behavior, speech or body odors. Observations may include
indications of the chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances;
(e) A reasonable suspicion determination shall be made
only under the following conditions:
1. An initial reasonable suspicion determination is
made concerning a test-designated employee by an individual in a position of
supervisory authority at the facility;
2. The initial reasonable suspicion determination is
verified by the administrator on duty or the officer; and
3. Prior to a facility employee making an initial
reasonable suspicion determination or a reasonable suspicion determination
verification, the employee shall have first received department approved
training and instruction on how to make a reasonable suspicion determination.
(3) Preappointment testing.
(a) An individual applying for employment at a
department-operated facility shall first submit to and successfully pass a drug
test prior to gaining employment at the facility. Testing shall take place at
an off-site testing site approved by the officer.
(b) An individual shall not begin employment at a
facility if a positive drug test result or a failed drug test has been reported
for the individual.
(c) An applicant who has a positive preappointment
drug test result or who fails a preappointment drug test shall not be subsequently
considered for appointment at a department operated facility for a period of at
least one (1) year.
(4) Follow-up testing.
(a) A test-designated employee shall submit to unscheduled
follow-up drug testing if the employee has engaged in any of the following
within the previous twenty-four (24) months:
1. Voluntarily disclosed the misuse or abuse of a
controlled substance or prescription or nonprescription medication;
2. Entered into or completed a rehabilitation program
for drug abuse;
3. Had a positive drug test result reported or failed
a drug test and dismissal did not occur;
4. Reports a criminal drug statute conviction; or
5. Been disciplined for violating this administrative
regulation.
(b) A test-designated employee who is subject to
follow-up drug testing shall not be required to submit to more than six (6)
unscheduled follow-up drug tests within any twelve (12) month period.
(c) Follow-up drug testing shall take place at an
off-site testing site as directed by the officer.
Section 10. Drugs Included. (1) If a drug test is
administered pursuant to this administrative regulation on or after July 1,
2006, the department shall, at a minimum, test for:
(a) Marijuana;
(b) Cocaine;
(c) Opiates;
(d) Amphetamines;
(e) Phencyclidine;
(f) Morphine;
(g) MDMA (Ecstasy);
(h) Methadone;
(i) Benziodiazepines;
(j) Barbiturates; and
(k) Oxycodone.
(2)(a) If conducting reasonable suspicion drug
testing, the department may test for any drug listed in Schedule 1 or 2 as defined
in KRS Chapter 218A.
(b) Before the department tests for other drugs, it
shall first obtain approval from the appointing authority.
(c) If requesting approval for the testing of other
drugs, the department shall first submit to the appointing authority the
agency's proposed initial test methods, testing levels, and proposed performance
test program.
(3) This administrative regulation shall not limit a
contract agency which is specifically authorized by law to include additional
categories of drugs in the drug testing of its own employees.
(4) Initial and confirmatory drug testing conducted
pursuant to this administrative regulation shall utilize cutoff levels as
specified in the federal "Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug
Testing Programs".
(5) Drug test specimens that meet or exceed the cutoff
levels as specified in subsection (5) of this section shall be reported as a
positive test result.
(6) Drug test specimens that test below the cutoff levels
as specified in subsection (5) of this section shall be reported as a negative
test result and shall constitute a passed drug test. Further testing of a
negative specimen for drugs shall not be permitted, and the negative specimen
shall be discarded or pooled for use in a laboratory’s internal quality control
program.
Section 11. Employee Duty to Report Convictions. A
test-designated employee shall report a criminal drug statute violation for
which he was convicted within five (5) working days of the conviction to the
facility’s human resources office. A test-designated employee who reports a
criminal drug statute conviction shall be subject to follow-up drug testing.
Section 12. Prescription and Nonprescription
Medications. (1) A facility employee taking a prescription or nonprescription
medication prior to or during his work shift shall immediately inform his
supervisor of this fact if:
(a) The instructions, indications, and
contraindications associated with the medication give the employee reason to believe
that the medication may in some way impair his work performance; or
(b) Having once taken the medication, the employee
begins to experience an unexpected, atypical, or adverse reaction to the medication,
which impairs his work performance.
(2) An employee who fails to comply with subsection
(1) of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and
including dismissal.
(3) Having been notified by an employee pursuant to subsection
(1) of this section, the employee’s supervisor shall closely monitor the
employee’s work performance throughout the employee’s work shift. If the
supervisor determines that there is a sufficient perceived impairment of the
employee’s work performance so as to raise concerns related to employee or
patient safety, the supervisor shall notify the facility’s administrator on
duty or his designee concerning the employee’s impaired work performance. The
administrator on duty shall then conduct an assessment and make a determination
regarding the employee’s impaired work performance.
(4) If the results of an assessment conducted pursuant
to subsection (3) of this section indicate that the employee’s work performance
is impaired so as to raise concerns related to employee or patient safety, the
administrator on duty shall:
(a) Temporarily assign the employee to nonpatient
related duties, if the temporary reassignment does not place the employee at
risk of injury or otherwise jeopardize the orderly operation of the facility;
or
(b) Allow the employee to leave from work utilizing
accumulated leave time.
(5) The employee shall be allowed to return to his
regular work duties if the results of an assessment conducted pursuant to subsection
(3) of this section indicate that the employee’s work performance is not
impaired.
Section 13. Dilute Specimen. (1) If a drug test is
conducted in accordance with this administrative regulation and the test result
is reported by the drug testing vendor as a dilute specimen, the officer shall:
(a) Inform the donor of the drug test result;
(b) Inform the donor that he shall be allowed one (1)
opportunity to take a second drug test;
(c) Direct the donor to take the second drug test as
soon as possible; and
(d) Direct the donor not to ingest an excessive
quantity of liquids prior to taking the second drug test.
(2) A second drug test administered pursuant to
subsection (1) of this Section in which the test result is reported by the drug
testing vendor as a dilute specimen shall be considered a failed drug test.
Section 14. Incorporation by Reference. (1)
"Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs", November
1, 2004, edition is incorporated by reference.
(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or
obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department for Mental
Health and Mental Retardation Services, 100 Fair Oaks Lane, 4th floor, Frankfort,
Kentucky 40621, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (32 Ky.R. 1352; 33
Ky.R. 261; 796; eff. 9-20-2006.)
