MS HB60

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 unpaid suspension

First responders may be placed on administrative leave with pay after a positive urinalysis and have 2 business days to contest the results, plus 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, the urinalysis is declared a false positive and the first responder must be immediately reinstated to their previous position

Effective date is July 1, 2026