DATIA's Agenda &

Action Items for 2000
Updated January 2000
  1. DATIA will actively work to promote the association and the benefits that it offers its members to industry professionals in an effort to increase membership. This increase in membership will allow the association to offer increased benefits to the membership as well as to increase the association's impact in shaping legislation affecting the drug and alcohol testing industry.
  2. DATIA will continue its efforts in educating industry professionals on the roles of and industry standards for a Consortium/TPA. This much needed industry guidance will allow the industry to continue its growth and have the confidence of its members and government officials. This will be accomplished through the DATIA sponsored Consortium/TPA Management Seminar, which has been scheduled for five sites in 2000.
  3. DATIA will continue to educate and certify professionals on the correct procedures and industry standards for urine specimen collection for drug testing, in its ongoing efforts to increase professionalism within the industry. DATIA will offer the Certified Professional Collector Trainer (CPCT) Course regionally in six locations throughout 2000. The program will continue to be offered in a format that allows participants to train fellow collectors for the Certified Professional Collector (CPC) designation in an affordable and customized format.
  4. DATIA will develop a central news source for industry professionals and consumers of drug and alcohol testing to access up to date nationwide news involving drug and alcohol testing. The website, www.drugtestingnews.com, will feature news articles on legislative, regulatory, legal, and technological developments in the industry. Visitors to the website will find it to be the one-site that they bookmark to stay up to date and "in the know" on industry activities.
  5. DATIA will provide up to date information concerning the drug and alcohol testing industry through its web site at www.datia.org. The web site will feature information on the association and its activities, legislative and regulatory actions, and downloadable versions of forms and documents pertinent to drug and alcohol testing professionals. The web site will market DATIA members' services and products through the Industry Directory and Buyers' Guide Searchable Internet Database. DATIA will ensure that the site is updated weekly and as new issues arise that will impact the industry.
  6. DATIA will identify areas that affect the drug and alcohol testing industry in the rewrite of the Dept. of Transportation's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NRPM) relative to changes to DOT's drug and alcohol testing regulations. DATIA is in the process of analyzing the NPRM, and will inform members of the changes and how they could potentially affect them. DATIA will then make recommendations to DOT relative to the proposal.
  7. DATIA will comment on the Notice of Proposed Revision issued by SAMHSA relative to changes in the Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF). In addition, DATIA will continue to work with the Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) towards the optional availability of electronic versions of the CCF, and the acceptance of HHS of the legitimacy of electronic signatures.
  8. DATIA will continue to work to clarify contrary regulations and guidance that may not allow Consortiums and Third Party Administrators (C/TPAs) to act as "agents of the employer" when implementing drug and alcohol testing programs. DATIA found conflicting evidence that C/TPAs may act as the employer when implementing an employer's drug testing program. It is DATIA's belief that Dept. of Transportation drug and alcohol regulations (46 CFR Part 40) clearly state that the definition of an "employer includes an industry consortium", thereby the terms employer and consortium are interchangeable under this definition.
  9. DATIA will continue to work with Congress in support of drug-free school legislation. DATIA is supportive of any measure by Congress that targets schools in an effort to curb drug use by children, with its attendant social and criminal problems. DATIA strongly believes that drug testing is an important verification and deterrent component to any serious legislation addressing student drug use.
  10. DATIA will also continue to work with Congress, the White House and other industry groups to introduce legislation offering small businesses tax credits for implementing drug free workplace programs. This credit will increase awareness of the benefits of drug testing among the small business community, and provide much needed financial incentives.