Fla. law 1st to randomly drug-test state workers
Mar 9, 2012, 6:08 PM
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida lawmakers have passed the nation’s first law allowing state agencies to randomly drug test employees.
Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign the law approved by the state Senate on Friday. It already passed the House.
Florida would be the first state to test workers without a specific suspicion in individual cases, according to the National Association of State Personnel Executives.
Under the new law, state employees could be randomly tested every three months. The measure also makes it easier to fire a worker after a first confirmed positive test.
Some Florida legal scholars have said the plan likely is unconstitutional.
Gov. Scott has already tried to start random drug testing of state employees with an executive order, but it’s been suspended during a challenge in federal court.
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