ORDER OF THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
EMERGENCY RULE
The Wisconsin department of workforce development hereby adopts the following emergency rule to create ch. 131 relating to pre-employment drug testing, substance abuse treatment program and job skills assessment. Analysis Prepared by the Department of
Workforce Development
Statutes Interpreted
Statutes Interpreted: Ch. 108, Stats. Statutory Authority
Explanation of Statutory Authority
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has specific and general authority to establish rules interpreting and clarifying provisions of ch. 108, Stats., unemployment insurance and reserves, and general authority for promulgating rules with respect to ch. 108, Stats., under ss. 108.14 (2) and (4), Stats. 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 (Act 55) created s. 108.133 (4), Stats., which requires DWD to promulgate rules to create procedures for an employing unit to voluntarily submit the positive results of a test for the presence of controlled substances conducted on an individual, or report that an individual declined to submit to a test, as a condition of new employment. Act 55 also created s. 108.04 (8) (b), Stats., which requires DWD to promulgate rules to create a period of ineligibility or a requalification requirement, or both, as it relates to an individual’s failure to accept suitable work due to the positive result of a test. Act 55 created s. 108.133 (3) (d), Stats., which permits an individual who fails a pre-employment drug test to remain eligible for benefits if the individual enrolls in and complies with the requirements of a drug treatment program and a skills assessment, which DWD must create under ss. 108.133 (2) (a) 2. and 4., Stats., Related Statute or Rules
Chapter 108, Stats. – Unemployment Insurance and Reserves Plain Language Analysis
This emergency rule implements the requirements specified under Act 55, relating to pre-employment drug testing, substance abuse treatment program and job skills assessment. Act 55 created s. 108.04 (8) (b), Stats., which provides the following:
There is a rebuttable presumption that an individual failed without good cause to accept suitable work if DWD determines, based on a report submitted by an employing unit, that an employing unit required the individual to submit to a test for the presence of controlled substances as a conditional offer of employment and withdrew the conditional offer after the individual declined to submit to the test, or tested positive for one or more controlled substances without providing evidence of a valid prescription for each controlled substance.
For an individual that declines to submit to a test, the individual shall be ineligible for benefits until the individual qualifies for benefits in accordance to the rules promulgated by DWD.
For an individual that tests positive for the presence of controlled substances without providing evidence of a valid prescription, the individual shall be ineligible for benefits until the individual qualifies for benefits in accordance with the rules promulgated by DWD or the individual may maintain eligibility for benefits if the individual enrolls in and complies with the requirements of a substance abuse treatment program and completes a job skills assessment. In addition, Act 55 provides that DWD shall:
Create and provide a substance abuse treatment program for individuals who engage in the unlawful use controlled substances.
Specify criteria that a claimant must satisfy in order to be considered in full compliance with the substance abuse treatment program.
Create and conduct a job skills assessment for claimants who engage in the unlawful use of controlled substances.
Identify criteria that an individual must satisfy to be considered in full compliance with the requirements of the job skills assessment. This emergency rule implements the requirements specified under Act 55 and creates a process for an employing unit to voluntarily submit the positive results of a test conducted on an individual to DWD, if the test was required as a condition of an offer of employment and the individual was informed that the results may be submitted to DWD, the test was conducted or confirmed by a laboratory certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the individual tested positive for one or more controlled substances without evidence of a valid prescription. In addition, the emergency rule identifies the process by which the employing unit can report the positive results of a test to DWD.
An employing unit may voluntarily notify DWD that an individual declined to submit to a test for the presence of controlled substances as a condition of employment and the individual was informed before testing, that the employing unit may notify the department if the individual declined to submit to the test.
If a report is submitted by an employing unit of the positive results of a test conducted on an individual as a condition of an offer of employment, or the employing unit notifies DWD that an individual declined to submit to a test for the presence of controlled substances, DWD shall determine if the individual is receiving unemployment insurance benefits. If DWD determines the individual is receiving unemployment insurance benefits, there is a rebuttable presumption that the individual failed to accept suitable work. This emergency rule provides the individual may overcome the presumption by proving certain facts by a preponderance of the evidence.
Under this emergency rule, an individual that fails a test without presenting evidence of a valid prescription or declines to submit to a test is ineligible for benefits until the individual earns wages at least 6 times the individual’s weekly benefit rate beginning after the week in which the individual tests positive or declines to submit to the test.
An individual that tests positive for controlled substances without presenting evidence of a valid prescription may maintain benefit eligibility by enrolling in and complying with a substance abuse treatment program, and completing a job skills assessment.
This emergency rule also identifies the parameters for a substance abuse treatment program for individuals that test positive for the presence of one or more controlled substances (without a valid prescription). In addition, this emergency rule does all of the following:
Requires an individual to schedule an assessment with a substance abuse treatment provider within 5 working days as directed by the department.
Requires an individual to comply with all conditions of a treatment plan developed by a substance abuse treatment provider.
Specifies that the substance abuse treatment provider will determine if an individual is in compliance with the substance abuse treatment program requirements, and inform the department on a weekly basis of the individual’s compliance.
Provides that DWD will pay for reasonable costs associated with the substance abuse treatment plan requirements for each week the individual is otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under ch. 108, Stats.
Requires an individual to complete a job skills assessment as directed by the department.
