MS HB564

First responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, and public EMS personnel) with 10 or more years of service who test positive for illegal drug use on a urinalysis must be given the opportunity for a follow-up hair follicle test before termination or suspension without pay

First responders have 2 business days after receiving written notice of positive test results to contest the findings, then an additional 5 days to submit to a hair follicle test at a certified laboratory

The first responder initially pays for the hair follicle test, but if the result is negative, the employer must reimburse the cost and cannot require additional follow-up testing

If the hair follicle test is negative for the drugs identified in the urinalysis, the urinalysis is declared a false positive and the first responder must be immediately reinstated to their previous position

Effective date of July 1, 2025, with a repeal date of June 30, 2025 (Note: this appears to be a drafting error in the bill text)