HB 1435 - Drug Testing of Public Officers

• Requires all elected federal, state, and local public officers (including judges) to undergo drug testing within 60 days of taking office and within 60 days of reelection or reappointment.

• Establishes testing procedures including specimen collection by licensed medical professionals or laboratory personnel, with documentation and chain of custody requirements to prevent contamination.

• Allows public officers to challenge positive test results by submitting written explanation to the Commission on Ethics within 5 working days and permits retest at another approved laboratory within 180 days at the officer's expense.

• Mandates that public officers refusing to undergo initial testing must resign within 60 days of taking office, while refusal of any subsequent required testing requires immediate resignation.

• Requires the Commission on Ethics to refer officers with confirmed positive results to employee assistance or drug rehabilitation programs, and subjects officers convicted of felony drug offenses to removal from office.