MS SB2603

Creates new Section 45-6-16 to grant law enforcement officers the right to a follow-up hair follicle test before termination or suspension without pay after a positive urinalysis for drug use.

Officer with positive urinalysis result may be placed on administrative leave with pay and has two business days to contest the test results in writing.

If officer contests results within two days, employer must allow five additional days for officer to voluntarily submit a hair sample for certified laboratory hair follicle testing.

Officer initially pays for hair follicle test; if test is negative, employer reimburses the cost; if positive, officer bears the cost.

If hair follicle test is negative for the drug(s) identified in urinalysis, the urinalysis is declared a false positive and officer is immediately returned to previous position; effective July 1, 2022.