ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE WORKPLACE POLICY (HR2436) 2023-06-28 REDLINED.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2023-06-28)

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MARICOPA COUNTY INTERNAL POLICY 
 
Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE 
WORKPLACE AND TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-201823 
Current Implementation Date: 
0609-2819-201823 
Approved by: 
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 
Board Agenda Number: 
C-31-19-004-6-
001 
Original Adoption Date: 
09-19-2018 
 
I. 
PURPOSE 
To provide a healthy, safe, and secure work environment for Maricopa County employees and the public they 
serve and; to comply with the requirements of the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988; to establish 
Safety Sensitive Position Alcohol and Drug Testing for pre-employment, job promotion, job transfer or 
assignment; and to establish procedures for Alcohol and Drug Testing for Reasonable Suspicion. 
II. 
AUTHORITY  
This Ppolicy is authorized by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to A.R.S.§11-251. 
III. 
APPLICATION 
This Ppolicy applies to employees of all Maricopa County appointed departments, as well as the Flood Control 
District of Maricopa County, and the Maricopa County Library District (Special Districts), and the Stadium 
District. The Board of Supervisors is authorized to jointly adopt policies applying to the Special Districts under 
the Intergovernmental Agreement, C-06-18-393-6-00, approved on April 11, 2018. An elected office may follow 
this Policy for its employees when it does not have a similar policy.This policy shall apply to County elected 
offices unless the County elected official has implemented a similar policy specific to his or her respective 
Office. 
Alcohol and Drug Testing pursuant to Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements are covered under . 
IV. 
DEFINITIONS 
A. Alcohol and Drug Testing (may also be referred to as Alcohol and Drug Screen): An examination of 
biological material (not limited to blood, urine, saliva or breath) by a certified medical facility to detect the 
presence of alcohol and Controlled Substances. 
B. Appointing Authority: An elected official, the single administrative or executive head of a department, or 
the designated representative authorized to act in this capacity. 
C. Controlled Substance: A drug, substance, or immediate precursor identified in A.R.S. §Arizona Revised 
Statutes (A.R.S.) Title 36-2512 to 36-2516, Chapter 27, Schedules I through V or a narcotic listed in A.R.S. 
§ 13-3401. 
D. Covered Workplace: Property owned, leased, or under the control of Maricopa County and/or where an 
employee is responsible for performing work in furtherance of a Maricopa County mandate or mission. 
E. Department HR: A department’s assigned, internal human resources office. If there is no departmental 
human resources office, the reference is to the department’s assigned HR Liaison. 
F. Employee Relations: The Employee Relations Division of the Maricopa County Human Resources 
Department.

Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE AND 
TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-
201823 
 
 
Page 2 of 7 
G. Group HR Manager: A department’s assigned Group HR Manager or designee. If there is no assigned 
Group HR Manager, the reference is to the department’s HR Manager or Appointing Authority. 
E. HR Director: The Maricopa County Human Resources Director or designee.HR Group Manager: A 
department’s HR Group Manager, designee, HR Manager, or Appointing Authority if there is no HR 
Manager. 
H.F. 
Human Resources (HR): The County’s Human Resources Department. 
I.G. Medical Review Officer: A licensed physician who is responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory 
results generated by an employer's Alcohol and Drug Testing program and evaluating medical 
explanations for certain specific alcohol and drug test results. 
J.H. 
Reasonable Suspicion: The belief that an individual may be Uunder the Iinfluence of alcohol or 
Ccontrolled Ssubstances while on- duty or in a Ccovered Wworkplace based on specific, 
contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech, and/or body 
odors of the employee. 
K.I. Safety Sensitive Position: A position with responsibilities where the risk to public safety is substantial 
and real. 
L.J. Under the Influence: The term applied to peoplea person who haves the presence of alcohol or 
Ccontrolled Ssubstances in their bodily systems, causing impairment to any degree. 
V. 
POLICY 
A. Maricopa County recognizes that alcohol impairment and drug use, abuse, and misuse may have adverse 
impacts upon, drug use, abuse, and misuse may adversely impact its employees and customers. The 
County offers health insurance plans, behavioral health benefits, and the Employee Assistance Program 
(EAP) to make employees awareinform employees of the dangers of using alcohol abuse and drug uses 
and to confidentially support and assist employees with concerns related to alcohol and drug use 
concerns. 
B. Manufacturing, distributing, possessing, or usingThe unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, 
possession or use of alcohol and/or Ccontrolled Ssubstances while on- duty or in a Ccovered Wworkplace 
is prohibited. 
C. Maricopa County eEmployees mustshould notify their supervisor or manager immediatelyimmediately 
notify their supervisor or manager when they believe an employee may be Uunder the Iinfluence of alcohol 
or drugs while on- duty or in a Ccovered Wworkplace. 
D. Supervisors or managers will observe an employee suspected to be Uunder the Iinfluence and will follow 
the steps in Section VI of this policy Policy when they have reasonable suspicion to believereasonably 
suspect an employee may be Uunder the Iinfluence of alcohol or drugs while on-duty or in a Covered 
Workplace. 
E. Maricopa County eEmployees shall abide by the terms of this policy Policy as a condition of employment.  
Violations of this policy Policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE AND 
TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-
201823 
 
 
Page 3 of 7 
F. Alcohol or Controlled Substancedrug related cCharges, aArrests, and cConvictions: mMay have a 
direct impact ondirectly impact an employee’s’ ability to perform job responsibilities or meet job 
requirements. In accordance withPer Code of Conduct -  HR2416 Code of Conduct, employees mustshall 
notify their Appointing Authority, as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than the first day they 
return to work, of any charge, arrest, or conviction for an alcohol or drug-relatedcontrolled substance 
offense, including a charge of Ddriving Uunder the Iinfluence (DUI) while employed with the County, no 
matter if the charge occurred on or off-duty. Appointing Authorities shall seek appropriate consultation 
from their Group HR Manager or assigned legal counsel when reviewing the circumstances of any 
reported alcohol or controlled substancedrug-related offense or conviction to determine if any potential 
disciplinary or administrative action is necessary. 
G. It is the policy of Maricopa County to conduct Alcohol and Drug Testing in the following 
circumstances: 
1. Pre-Employment, Promotion or Transfer for Safety Sensitive Positions: All internal and external 
applicants offered a position identified as Safety Sensitive will submit to Alcohol and Drug Testing as 
soon as practicable but within 72 hours after a conditional job offer has been accepted. The test result 
must be verified negative before the applicant begins working in the position. 
2. Reasonable Suspicion: All employees are subject to Reasonable Suspicion Alcohol and Drug 
Testing when there is sufficient information to believe an employee may be Under the Influence of 
alcohol and/or Controlled Substances while on-duty or in a Covered Workplace. 
VI. 
SAFETY SAFETY-SENSITIVE POSITION TESTING PROCEDURES 
A. Pre-Employment Testing: Internal and external applicants offered a safety-sensitive position must pass 
a drug test after a conditional job offer is accepted and before working in the position. 
A. Consent: Applicants sign a  conditional offer of employment letter indicating that they consent to the 
Alcohol and Drug Ttesting.  
B. Applicants whothat refuse to consent to testing arewill have their applications withdrawn from the selection 
process and will beare ineligible for employment in any Ssafety -Ssensitive Pposition with Maricopa 
County for a period of one year from the date of refusal to test. 
C. Testing: Department HR Applicants must will schedule the applicant to complete theAlcohol and Drug 
Ttesting as soon as practicable but within 72 hours from receipt of a chain of custody form from the 
Countyafter a conditional offer of employment has been accepted. 
D.C. 
Results: Department HR will receive the final results of the pre-employment Alcohol and Drug 
Testing from the medical facility. 
VII. 
COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE (CDL) TESTING 
A. Pre-employment Testing: Internal and external applicants offered a position that requires a CDL must 
pass a drug test after a conditional job offer is accepted and before working in the position. 
B. Consent: Applicants sign a conditional offer indicating consent to the test. Applicants who refuse testing 
are withdrawn from the selection process and are ineligible for employment in any CDL position with 
Maricopa County for one year from the date of refusal to test. 
C. Pre-employment Testing: Applicants must complete the test as soon as practicable but within 72 hours 
from receipt of a chain of custody form from the County.

Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE AND 
TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-
201823 
 
 
Page 4 of 7 
D. Random Testing: Under 49 CFR, Part 382, the County conducts random, unannounced controlled 
substance and alcohol tests of CDL employees randomly selected from a computer-generated list from 
the pool of CDL employees subject to testing. HR maintains this list. Employees must complete the test 
immediately upon receipt of notification from their manager. 
E. Post-Accident Testing: CDL drivers are subject to post-accident drug and alcohol testing based on 
federal guidelines as soon as feasible on accidents involving a commercial motor vehicle operated on a 
public road. Guidelines on post-accident testing can be found under eCFR § 49 382.303. 
F. Refusal to Cooperate: Refusal to cooperate (e.g., refusal to take a test, failure to remain at the test site, 
inability to provide a sufficient breath or urine specimen without a valid medical explanation, tampering 
with a specimen collected, not reporting to the collection site in the time allotted, leaving the scene of an 
accident without a valid reason, refusing to consent to the release of information to the County, etc.) in 
any CDL testing procedure shall result in termination. 
VII.VIII. 
REASONABLE SUSPICION TESTING PROCEDURES 
A. Reasonable Suspicion: All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion alcohol and drug testing when 
there is sufficient evidence they may be under the influence while on duty or in a covered workplace. 
A.B. 
HR Notification: When a sSupervisors or managers who believes an employee may be Uunder 
the Iinfluence of alcohol or drugs in the workplace, they mustshall immediately: 
1. Call HRtheir Group HR Manager or Employee Relations (if their Group HR Manager is unavailable) 
and describe the specific behaviors and/or factors that led them to believe the employee is Uunder 
the Iinfluence. It is imperative that positive verbal contacPositive verbal contact must be made with 
the Group HR Group Manager or other Employee RelationsHR management as soon as possible due 
to time constraints related to potential Reasonable Suspicion Alcohol and Drug Testing. 
2. Ensure the employee does not damage County property or endanger themselves or, other employees 
or the public by having the employee remain in a safe location (e.g. break room, office, etc.) and 
ensuring the employee is monitoredkeeping the employee in a safe location (e.g., break room, office, 
etc.) and monitoring him or her. 
B.C. 
Observed Behaviors: The Group HR Manager or Employee RelationsHR will will assesss the 
specific behaviors and/or factors observed by at least two observers people to determine if Rreasonable 
Ssuspicion Aalcohol and Ddrug Ttesting of the employee is justified. HR and will decides the best course 
of action to take in situations wherewhen two peopleobservers are not physically available tocannot 
observe the employee. 
C.D. 
Testing: If testing is justified, HRthe Group HR Manager, Employee Relations, HR Liaison, the 
manager, and/or the supervisor will meets with the employee as soon as possibleimmediately and explains 
the observationswhat has been observed and documented. 
1. The employee isshould be given the opportunityallowed to explain if there is a the reason for the 
observed behavior. 
2. AnIf the employee with a reason for the behavior offers a reason for this behavior, they may still be 
required to submit to Aalcohol and Ddrug Ttesting to verify the explanation. 
E. Consent: After Tthe employee signs a consent form the Maricopa County Alcohol and Drug Testing 
Consent Form and, the individual(s) accompanying the employee will hand-carry the original to the testing 
facility. A copy of the Consent Form will be retained by Department HRDepartment HR retains a copy of 
the consent form.

Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE AND 
TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-
201823 
 
 
Page 5 of 7 
Consent Refusal: If the employee refuses to sign the form or give consent to alcohol and drug testing, 
the HR, a manager, or a supervisor: 
1. Notifies the employee that refusal to consent to testing is deemed a willful violation of Policy and 
grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. 
2. Documents the refusal at the bottom of the consent form and forwards the form to HR. 
3. Places the employee on administrative leave pending any investigative or disciplinary actions. 
4. Makes arrangements to transport the employee home safely or to the location of his or her choice. 
a.  
D.F. 
Transporting Employee: The Group HR Manager, Employee Relations, manager or supervisor 
will make aArrangements are made to safely transport the employee to the Alcohol and Drug Ttesting 
facility and then to the employee’s home or to a safe location of the employee’s choosing after the testing 
is complete. Under no circumstances will the employee be allowed to drive themselves to the testing 
facility or to their residence after completion of the testhome after the test. 
1. A County vehicle should be used to transport tThe employee should be transported in a County 
vehicle. When extenuating circumstances exist, a personally owned vehicle may be used to transport 
the employee. 
2. Two individuals (supervisors, managers, or Security Services Staff) should accompany tThe employee 
should be accompanied to the testing facility by two individuals, each of whom should be either a 
supervisor, manager or Security Services staff. and tThe individual driving mustshall be authorized to 
drive County or private vehicles for County business. Only when extenuating circumstances exist will 
it be permitted to haveshould only one supervisor, manager, or Security Services staff accompany the 
employee. 
3. Notify If the employee being transported becomes belligerent or uncooperative, Security Services 
and/or local law enforcement should be notifiedSecurity Services and law enforcement if the employee 
becomes belligerent or uncooperative. and the employee may be placed on administrative leave 
pending any subsequent investigative/disciplinary actions. 
E.G. 
Administrative Leave: The employee is placed on administrative leave after the testing is 
completeAfter completing the test, the employee is placed on administrative leave, pending receipt of the 
test results and any subsequent investigative/ or disciplinary actions. 
F.H. 
Follow-Up Actions: Complete the following actions once the employee has been transported to 
the testing facility. 
1. The Group HR will notify the Appointing Authority of Manager or Employee Relations are responsible 
for timely notification of the situation to the Appointing Authority and HR Director. 
2. The individual(s) that accompaniedaccompanying the employee to the test facility will notify the Group 
HR Manager or Employee Relations as soon as reasonably possible after the Alcohol and Drug 
Ttesting ishas been completed and the employee has beenis safely transported home or to the 
location of his or hertheir choice.

Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE AND 
TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-
201823 
 
 
Page 6 of 7 
3. The observers will document the specific behaviors and/or factors they observed that led them to 
believe the employee is Uunder the Iinfluence and the individuals that accompanied the employee to 
the test facility will document any relevant actions that occurred. The individuals accompanying the 
employee to the test facility document any relevant actions during transport and testing. All 
documentation iswill be forwarded to the Group HR Manager and Employee Relations. 
4. Refusal to consent: If the employee refuses to sign the form or give consent to Alcohol and Drug 
Testing, the Group HR Manager, Employee Relations, HR Liaison, manager, and/or supervisor: 
5. Notifies the employee that refusal to consent to Alcohol and Drug Testing is deemed a willful 
violation of policy and grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. 
6. Documents the employee’s refusal to test at the bottom of the Consent Form and forwards the form 
to the Group HR Manager and Employee Relations. 
7. Places the employee on administrative leave pending any subsequent investigative/disciplinary 
actions. 
8. Makes arrangements to safely transport the employee home or to the location of their choice. 
9. Test Results: Employee Relations will receive the final results of the testing from the medical facility 
and will notify the HR Director and Group HR Manager of the test results. Employee Relations will 
retain copies of all relevant documentation with the employee’s test results. 
3. ::: 
VIII.IX. 
TEST RESULTS  
A. A Medical Review Officer from the medical facility will reviews any Aalcohol and Ddrug Ttesting result that 
requires medical interpretation. A second test may be required in the case of inconclusive results. 
B. Applicants or employees who are takeing prescription medication that may cause a positive test result 
may notify the Medical Review Officer of their use of prescription medicationprescription medication use. 
The Medical Review Officer will make the final determinationdetermine whether a test result is positive or 
negative. 
C. Safety Sensitive Position Testing: 
1. Negative Test Results: The Aapplicant may be is cleared for hire. 
2. Positive Test Results: The Aapplicant iswill be disqualified from the selection process. 
a. External Aapplicants are ineligible for employment in any position with Maricopa County for a 
period of one year from the date of the failed Aalcohol and Ddrug Ttesting. 
b. Internal Applicants are ineligible for voluntary promotion or transfer to any position within Maricopa 
County for a period of one year from the date of the positive testone year from the positive test 
date and may be placed on administrative leave pending investigative or /disciplinary action. 
D. Reasonable Suspicion Testing: 
1. Negative Test Results: The employee may return to work. Disciplinary action may be considered for 
the conduct that gave rise to the Aalcohol and Ddrug Ttesting.

Policy Title: 
ALCOHOL AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE AND 
TESTING 
Policy Number: 
HR2436 
Current Adoption Date: 
0609-2819-
201823 
 
 
Page 7 of 7 
2. Positive Test Results: The employee may remains on administrative leave pending the completion of 
any investigative or /disciplinary actions. 
E. HR receives the final test results from the medical facility. 
F. Applicants and employees subject to Aalcohol and Ddrug Ttesting can submit a written request shall be 
afforded access to review the results of their own testir test results from HR and have the opportunity to 
explain a positive test result. A written request for record review should be submitted to Department HR 
or Employee Relations. 
E.G. 
Confidentiality of Information: Alcohol and drug testing results are confidential. Information 
regarding alcohol and drug testing results may be reviewed by County management, legal counsel, 
Appointing Authorities, and Human Resources. 
IX. 
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION 
A. Alcohol and Drug Testing results shall be kept confidential. Employee Relations will retain copies of test 
results consistent with the applicable retention schedule. 
Information regarding Alcohol and Drug Testing results may be reviewed by County management and 
legal counsel, Appointing Authorities and Human Resources staff. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revision History 
Version 
Revision Date 
Description of Revision 
1 
09/-19-/2018 
Initial version (C-31-19-004-6-00) 
2 
06/28/2023 
Simplified language and added in CDL testing section (C-31-19-004-6-01)