Policy Text
Page 1 of 12 11/10 (New 2/95)
Federally-Mandated Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Program
The purpose of this Order is to establish procedures for random drug and alcohol
testing for compliance with US Department of Transportation gui delines.
I. General
The US Department of Transporta tion (DOT) enacted guidelines th rough the Federal
Highway Administratio n (49 CFR Part 382) a nd Federal Transit Ad ministration (49 CFR
Parts 653 and 654) which mandate ur ine drug testing and breatha lyzer testing for
safety-sensitive classifications , and prevent performance of sa fety-sensitive functions
when a positive test results. T he DOT enacted 49 CFR Part 40 es tablishing standards
for the collection and testing of urine and breath specimens.
II. Applicability
All employees who posse ss a California commercial driver’s lice nse and use, or
may be called upon to use, that d river’s license in the perform ance of their duties
shall be subject to alcohol and drug testing to include pre-emp loyment (prior to
appointment to a position that will or may use the commercial l icense), random,
reasonable suspicion, post-accide nt, and return-to-duty testing as prescribed by
County policy and procedures J-7 and federal law. Additionally, employees
providing security services for a Federal Transit Administratio n agency are
subject to testing as well. Posit ions within the Department tha t would be subject
to this testing are, but no t limited to, the following:
A. Sworn and non-sworn employees with commercial driver’s licen ses
assigned to, or who may be assig ned to, driving County vehicles in the
course of their employment which requires a commercial license.
B. Sworn personnel assigned to t he Regional Transit Detail.
III. Confidentiality
The County of Sacramento and t he Sheriff’s Department affirms t he need to
protect individual dignity, pri vacy, and confidentiality throug hout the testing
process. All records regarding testing shall be regarded as ext remely confidential
and maintained accordingly in the employee’s medical file maint ained in the
Personnel unit.
Page 2 of 12 11/10 (New 2/95)
IV. Scope of Test
A. Analytical urine testing and br eath testing for alcohol will be conducted as
required by federal regulations. T esting shall be conducted in a manner
that assures a high degree of acc uracy and reliability and usin g
techniques, equipment, and laborator y facilities which have bee n
approved by the US Department of H ealth and Human Services. All
testing will be conducted consiste nt with the procedures set fo rth in 49
CFR Part 40.
B. Drugs to be tested for are ma rijuana, cocaine, opiates, amph etamines,
and phencyclidine (PCP). An init ial drug screen will be conduct ed on each
specimen (emit). Specimens testi ng positive will be confirmed u sing gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) procedures. Minimum
thresholds for a positive test s hall be those established in 49 CFR Part 40.
C. Tests for alcohol concentration shall be conduc ted using a N ational
Highway Traffic Safety Administr ation (NHTSA) approved evidenti al
breath testing (EBT) device oper ated by a trained breath alcoho l
technician. If the initial test i ndicates an alcohol concentrat ion of greater
than .00, a second test will be ad ministered. An employee with a
confirmed alcohol concentration of greater than .00 but less th an .04 shall
be immediately relieved of duty for at least 24 hours following the test. A
confirmed alcohol concentration of .04 or greater shall be cons idered
positive and in violation of th is order and County policy.
V. Testing Requirements/Procedures
A. Pre-Employment
1. Applicants for both sworn and non-sworn positions within the
Sheriff’s Department are subjec t to drug testing prior to
employment. Applicants for DOT sa fety-sensitive positions, as
defined in this order, shall under go urine and drug testing and
breath alcohol testing prior to a cceptance into the DOT safety-
sensitive position. Failure of a drug or alcohol test or a refu sal to
participate shall disqualify the applicant from further conside ration
for the position and may subject t he employee to disciplinary a ction
up to and including termination.
B. Random
1. All employees in DOT safety-s ensitive classifications are su bject to
random, unannounced testing for alcohol and controlled
substances. Random selection sh all be conducted using a
scientifically-valid method.
Page 3 of 12 11/10 (New 2/95)
2. The Personnel unit shall mainta in the file for all employees subject
to testing (testing pool). A random ly selected computer-generat ed
list of employees subject to testi ng shall be pulled periodical ly. This
list shall include:
a. Employee name, class code, work location, and personal
identifiers.
b. Clinic site for test. c. Date of test.
3. An employee letter of notific ation along with an “Employee C linic
Passport” (Appendix A) shall be fa xed to the affected employee’ s
division commander on the sc heduled date of the test. The
employee shall be se rved notice of