A final rule published the day before Thanksgiving will affect the award/grant recipients of over 30 Federal Agencies. The rule identifies the requirements for a drug free workplace, which grant recipients must maintain, and the effects for not meeting this requirement. What DATIA finds most important about this regulation is not what is included, but rather what is omitted - drug testing. The recipient must only publish a drug-free workplace statement and establish a drug-free awareness program for its employees, and take actions concerning employees who are convicted of violating drug statutes in the workplace. Similar requirements exist for companies that receive federal contracts. During 2004, DATIA will work to educate the affected agencies on the need for drug testing as part of a drug free workplace. A key Agenda Item will be to work to get drug-testing requirements included in the regulation. View the full regulation.
