03/20/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

            SB 196-EMPLOYER DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:36:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN announced  the consideration  of  SENATE BILL  NO.                                                              
196, "An Act relating to drug and alcohol testing by employers."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:37:13 PM                                                                                                                    
LAURA  ACHEE,   Staff,  Senator   Jesse  Bjorkman,   Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, provided an overview of  SB 196. She                                                              
explained  that SB  196 would  allow employers  to test  employees                                                              
for drug  and alcohol use by  taking oral fluid  (saliva) samples.                                                              
She  stated  that  employers would  be  protected  from  lawsuits,                                                              
provided  they follow  their  written plan  for  drug and  alcohol                                                              
testing   enacted  in  good   faith.  She   noted  that   industry                                                              
representatives  would testify that  SB 196 provides  a convenient                                                              
option, particularly  in  rural areas and  places where  restrooms                                                              
are  not  readily  available  for   urine  testing.  She  recalled                                                              
previous  testimony  that  illustrated the  need  for  alternative                                                              
forms of testing  and said that saliva testing  would be effective                                                              
in  - and  potentially  eliminate -  these  situations. She  added                                                              
that  saliva  testing makes  it  easier  to  maintain a  chain  of                                                              
custody, providing  greater assurance that the sample  is from the                                                              
employee (which is done in a non-invasive manner).                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:38:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 196.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:39:18 PM                                                                                                                    
ED  MARTIN,  Co-owner,   Kee  Construction  LLC,   Kenai,  Alaska,                                                              
testified in  support of SB 196.  He stated that, as  an employer,                                                              
he  supports  drug  testing and  shared  the  circumstances  under                                                              
which  he  tests  his  employees.  He  emphasized  that  the  drug                                                              
testing  is required  by state  law.  He stated  that he  supports                                                              
adding public officials and employees to the legislation.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:41:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 196.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:41:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:41:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BISHOP  moved to  report SB  196, work order  33-LS1144\A,                                                              
from  committee  with  individual   recommendations  and  attached                                                              
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:42:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  found no objection  and SB 196, was  reported from                                                              
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.