FL H0653

Creates the Drug Deterrence Program within the Agency for Workforce Innovation to implement drug testing for unemployment compensation applicants and beneficiaries, effective October 1, 2011.

Requires individuals claiming or receiving unemployment benefits to agree to drug testing at their own expense and establishes screening mechanisms to identify likely illicit drug users.

Disqualifies individuals who refuse testing or test positive for drugs; individuals testing positive receive only 5 percent of benefits for up to 52 weeks until they earn income equal to at least 17 times their weekly benefit amount.

Establishes testing procedures including specimen collection standards, chain-of-custody documentation, and allows retesting by gas chromatography or equally specific methods; test results are self-authenticating and create a rebuttable presumption of drug use.

Requires the Agency for Workforce Innovation to submit a report by January 1, 2013 including testing results, denied benefits, program costs, and recommendations; the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability must evaluate cost-effectiveness and make recommendations to the Legislature.