HB1855 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 09720 WGH 31800 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1855

Introduced 2/23/2007, by Rep. Dave Winters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

820 ILCS 130/5.5 new

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that an employee may not use, possess, attempt to possess, distribute, deliver, or be under the influence of cannabis or a controlled substance, or use or be under the influence of alcohol, while performing work on a project covered by the Act. Requires an employer to have a substance abuse prevention program in place with specified elements. Provides for discipline of employees upon reasonable suspicion that the employee is in the possession of or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Contains provisions regarding: drug and alcohol testing; presence of employees on job sites; employees commencing or returning to work under specified circumstances; rehabilitation programs; applicability; and other matters. Effective January 1, 2008.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning employment.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Prevailing Wage Act is amended by adding Section 5.5 as follows:

(820 ILCS 130/5.5 new)

Sec. 5.5. Substance abuse prevention on public works projects.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Accident" means an incident caused, contributed to, or otherwise involving an employee that resulted or could have resulted in death, personal injury, or property damage and that occurred while the employee was performing work on a project subject to this Act.

"Alcohol" means any substance containing any form of alcohol including, but not limited to, ethanol, methanol, propanol, and isopropanol.

"Alcohol concentration" means: (1) the number of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath: or (2) the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.

"Drug" means a controlled substance as defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or cannabis as defined in the Cannabis Control Act for which testing is required by an employer under its substance abuse prevention program under this Act. The term "drug" includes prescribed medications not used in accordance with a valid prescription.

"Employee" means a laborer, mechanic, or other worker employed in any public works by anyone under a contract for public works.

"Employer" means a contractor or subcontractor performing a public works project subject to this Act.

(b) Substance abuse prohibited. No employee may use, possess, attempt to possess, distribute, deliver, or be under the influence of a drug, or use or be under the influence of alcohol, while performing the work described in this Act. An employee is considered to be under the influence of alcohol for purposes of this Section if the alcohol concentration in his or her blood or breath at the time alleged as shown by analysis of the employee's blood or breath is at or above 0.02.

(c) Substance abuse prevention programs required.

(1) Before an employer commences work on a project, the employer shall have in place a written program which meets or exceeds the program requirements in this Section, to be filed with the public body engaged in the construction of the public works and made available to the general public, for the prevention of substance abuse among its employees. The testing must be performed by a laboratory that is certified for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At a minimum, the program shall include all of the following:

(A) A minimum requirement of a 9 panel urine drug test plus a test for alcohol. Testing an employee's blood may only be used for post-accident testing, however, blood testing is not mandatory for the employer where a urine test is sufficient.

(B) A prohibition against the actions or conditions specified in subsection (b).

(C) A requirement that employees performing the work described in this Act on a project submit to pre-hire, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug and alcohol testing. Testing of an employee before commencing work on a project is not required if the employee has been participating in a random testing program during the 90 days preceding the date on which the employee commenced work on the project.

(D) A procedure for notifying an employee who violates subsection (b), who tests positive for the presence of a drug in his or her system, or who refuses to submit to drug or alcohol testing as required under the program that the employee may not perform work on a project until the employee meets the conditions specified in subdivisions (d)(2)(A) and (d)(2)(B).

(2) Reasonable suspicion testing. An employee whose supervisor has reasonable suspicion to believe the employee is in the possession of or under the influence of alcohol or drug is subject to discipline up to and including suspension, and be required to undergo an alcohol or drug test. "Reasonable suspicion" means a belief, based on behavioral observations or other evidence, sufficient to lead a prudent or reasonable person to suspect an employee is under the influence and exhibits slurred speech, inappropriate behavior, decreased motor skills, or other such traits. Circumstances, both physical and psychological, shall be given consideration. Whenever possible before an employee is required to submit to testing based on reasonable suspicion, the employee shall be observed by more than one supervisory or managerial employee. It is encouraged that observation of an employee should be performed by a supervisory or managerial employee who has successfully completed a certified training program to recognize drug and alcohol abuse. The employer who is requiring an employee to be tested based upon reasonable suspicion shall provide transportation for the employee to the testing facility and may send a representative to accompany the employee to the testing facility. Under no circumstances may an employee thought to be under the influence of alcohol or a drug be allowed to operate a vehicle or other equipment for any purpose. The employee shall be removed from the job site and placed on inactive status pending the employer's receipt of notice of the test results. The employee shall have the right to request a representative or designee to be present at the time he or she is directed to provide a specimen for testing based upon reasonable suspicion. If the test result is positive for drugs or alcohol, the employee shall be subject to termination. The employer shall pay all costs related to this testing. If the test result is negative, the employee shall be placed on active status and shall be put back to work by the employer. The employee shall be paid for all lost time to include all time needed to complete the drug or alcohol test and any and all overtime according to the employee's contract.

(3) An employer is responsible for the cost of developing, implementing, and enforcing its substance abuse prevention program, including the cost of drug and alcohol testing of its employees under the program. The testing must be performed by a laboratory that is certified for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contracting agency is not responsible for that cost, for the cost of any medical review of a test result, or for any rehabilitation provided to an employee.

(d) Employee access to project.

(1) An employer may not permit an employee who violates subsection (b), who tests positive for the presence of a drug in his or her system, or who refuses to submit to drug or alcohol testing as required under the employer's substance abuse prevention program under subsection (c) to perform work on a project until the employee meets the conditions specified in subdivisions (d)(2)(A) and (d)(2)(B). An employer shall immediately remove an employee from work on a project if any of the following occurs:

(A) The employee violates subsection (b), tests positive for the presence of a drug in his or her system, or refuses to submit to drug or alcohol testing as required under the employer's substance abuse prevention program.

(B) An officer or employee of the contracting agency, preferably one trained to recognize drug and alcohol abuse, has a reasonable suspicion that the employee is in violation of subsection (b) and requests the employer to immediately remove the employee from work on the project for reasonable suspicion testing.

(2) An employee who is barred or removed from work on a project under subdivision (d)(1) may commence or return to work on the project upon his or her employer providing to the contracting agency documentation showing all of the following:

(A) That the employee has tested negative for the presence of drugs in his or her system and is not under the influence of alcohol as described in subsection (b).

(B) That the employee has been approved to commence or return to work on the project in accordance with the employer's substance abuse prevention program.

(C) Testing for the presence of drugs or alcohol in an employee's system and the handling of test specimens was conducted in accordance with guidelines for laboratory testing procedures and chain-of-custody procedures established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(3) Upon successfully completing a rehabilitation program, an employee shall be reinstated to his or her former employment status if work for which he or she is qualified exists.

(e) Applicability. This Section applies to a contract to perform work on a public works project for which bids are opened on or after January 1, 2008, or, if bids are not solicited for the contract, to a contract to perform such work entered into on or after January 1, 2008. The provisions of this Section apply only to the extent there is no collective bargaining agreement in effect dealing with the subject matter of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2008.