Kansas Alcohol & Drugs: What you need to know

Drug and alcohol testing is an area generally governed by state law, so getting the drug testing facts is vital for employers. For some specific industries, workplace drug screening is mandated by federal law; however, drug testing for marijuana and other intoxicants can be instrumental in an employer's efforts to control abuse in the workplace, regardless of whether the employer is required to do so. Employers must also consider the value of programs for drug abuse rehabilitation and rehabilitation for abuse of other substances in assisting and retaining valuable employees.

Private employers. Some states have comprehensive laws that regulate or prohibit drug testing in the private sector, but Kansas does not have such a law. Private employers are therefore free to implement drug testing programs at their own discretion. Additional information on developing a program is available. Please see the national Alcohol and Drugs section.

According to the Kansas Human Rights Commission’s http://www.khrc.net/hiring.html, an employer may require the applicant to submit to a drug test after an offer of employment is made, as long as all entering employees in the same job category face that same requirement, and information obtained remains confidential except to supervisors or managers, or for safety reasons.

Public employers. Kansas law allows drug screening of applicants for safety-sensitive positions in state government as well as screening of current occupants of safety-sensitive positions and certain other state positions if there is a reasonable suspicion of drug use. Applicants can be tested only after receiving conditional offers of employment. Public advertisements for employment in ...