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County approves condensed drug and alcohol testing rules; post‑rehab and confirmation tests assigned to employee
Summary
The board approved a shortened drug and alcohol testing policy, with the county covering required testing costs but assigning confirmation and post‑rehabilitation testing costs to the employee; language aligning workers' compensation exclusions to statutory burden‑of‑proof was added.
Oklahoma County commissioners approved a revised, condensed drug and alcohol testing policy that clarifies who covers testing costs and aligns disciplinary language with workers' compensation law.
Under the changes, the county will pay for tests required by the county (for example, pre‑employment or DOT‑mandated testing), but confirmation testing and post‑rehabilitation testing were made the employee’s responsibility. Commissioners also asked staff to add language clarifying that, for workers’ compensation purposes, an employee may be ineligible for benefits if the employee cannot meet statutorily required burdens of proof related to substances, with staff to insert the precise statute.
Why it matters: the change narrows the county’s testing‑cost exposure while preserving the county’s ability to require testing where legally appropriate. It clarifies expectations for employees who enter rehabilitation programs and for whom follow‑up testing may be required.
Key passage: the committee read language to place post‑rehabilitation and confirmation testing as the individual's responsibility: "The individual shall pay all costs of the post rehabilitation testing." The motion to approve the condensed policy, including those cost assignments and the cross‑reference to relevant statutes for workers' compensation, passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will insert the specific workers' compensation citation and publish the revised policy.
