Title
21 - Drug and Alcohol Policies Ordinance
[amended
February 22, 1996]
ORDINANCE NO: 3-96
DATE
APPROVED: February 22, 1996
SUBJECT:
Drug and Alcohol Policies of the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
WHEREAS:
The Hoopa Valley Tribe adopted a Constitution and Bylaws (Tribal
Constitution) on June 20, 1972, which was approved by the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs on August 18, 1972, and ratified and confirmed by
Congress on October 31, 1988, § 8 of Pub. L. 100-580, and amended
on June 19, 1990;
WHEREAS
Article V of the Hoopa Tribal Constitution establishes the Hoopa
Valley Tribal Council as the governing body of the Tribe;
WHEREAS
Article IX of the Hoopa Constitution grants to the Tribal Council the
power and the duty: to administer tribal property [Section 1( a)]; and
to safeguard and promote the peace, safety, morals and general welfare
of enrolled members of the Hoopa Valley Tribe [Section 1( l)];
WHEREAS
The Hoopa Valley Tribal Council has the inherent authority to assure
that the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and the operations of Tribal
government are free of the destructive effects of the improper and illicit
use of alcohol and drugs;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council hereby ordains
the following Tribal Drug and Alcohol Policies, amended February 22,
1996.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICIES
Title 21
21.0 SHORT TITLE
The short
title of this Ordinance shall be the Drug and Alcohol Policies of the
Hoopa Valley Tribe.
21.1 GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT
21.1.1
Purposes
We are
committed to achieving and maintaining a safe and productive workplace
free from persons drug or alcohol affected in their ability to do
their jobs. We are also committed to providing safe, reliable, and
courteous service to Tribal members and the public. Employees, Council
members and delegates who are affected in their ability to perform
their jobs safely and productively, due to physical and emotional
problems or inappropriate use or abuse of alcohol and other drug substances,
jeopardize the integrity of the workplace and the achievement of our
Tribal objectives.
21.1.2
Overview
Employees,
Council members and delegates have the primary individual responsibility
for managing their own behavior, and, if an impairment issue exists,
for successfully resolving that issue. Being Fit for Duty addresses
two issues--an employee's, Council member's or delegate's condition
and his or her conduct.
Condition.
When an employee's, Council member's or delegate's condition (physical
illness, emotional distress, chemical dependency) interferes with
safe and productive work, the employee, Council member or delegate
needs to take whatever measures necessary to correct the condition.
We recognize the valuable resource we have in our employees, Council
members and delegates, and are committed to helping them maintain
their health and well being. Therefore, we strongly encourage employees,
Council members and delegates to take advantage of the many opportunities
of assistance through the employee health benefits and employee assistance
programs to help make work a positive, healthy and mutually beneficial
opportunity.
Conduct.
The second part of being Fit for Duty is conduct. Employees, Council
members and delegates are accountable for unsafe and unproductive
work and the consequences of that work. Irresponsible behavior due
to physical, emotional, or substance abuse impairments will not be
tolerated. An employee engaging in such misconduct may be disciplined
up to and including dismissal. (see Section 21.5) A Council member
engaging in such misconduct may be removed from office. (See Constitution,
Article VII, Section 2, Removal for neglect of duty or gross misconduct.)
A board, commission or committee member engaging in such misconduct
may be removed from the board, commission or committee.
We recognize
the need for safety, efficiency and productivity. Therefore, the Hoopa
Valley Tribe affirms that:
| use, |
sale, |
| possession |
transfer,
or |
| distribution, |
being
under the influence |
| manufacture, |
|
of alcohol
in any form, illegal drugs, or unauthorized substances, by employees,
Council members or delegates while on duty, or otherwise affecting
employment, Council or delegate duties, or by independent contractors
or their employees while engaged in performance of a contract for
the Tribe or a Tribal entity, is strictly prohibited.
Employees,
and independent contractors and their employees, who violate the prohibitions
of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including
termination of their employment or recision of their contract. Council
members who violate the prohibitions of this policy may be subject
to removal from office pursuant to Article VII, Section 2 of the Tribal
Constitution. Delegates who violate the prohibitions of this policy
may be subject to removal from the board, commission or committee
pursuant to the removal procedure in the governing document of the
board, commission or committee.
All prospective
employees, Council members and delegates will be subject to the following
categories of drug and alcohol testing: pre-employment, reasonable
cause, post accident/ incident, and return to duty (after a positive
drug and alcohol test or return from treatment resulting from a management
intervention).
Specified
employees, Council members and delegates will be subject to the following
category of drug and alcohol testing: random.
Drug
and alcohol testing will be conducted with accuracy and reliability.
We uphold a high regard for privacy and dignity in specimen collection,
testing, assessment and notification process. Employees, Council members
and delegates found to have present a prohibited substance in the
body (breath, blood or urine), and without adequate medical explanation,
will be regarded as having violated the provisions of this policy.
The Tribal
Chairman shall appoint a Fit for Duty Officer who will be responsible
for implementation of this policy. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary in any Tribally issued charter, governing document, or
personnel policy, the Fit for Duty Officer shall have authority to
enforce this Policy against any employees of the Tribe and its entities,
by imposing penalties up to and including termination, in the case
of employees, or recision of the contract, in the case of independent
contractors. The Tribal Council shall have the authority to enforce
the policy against any of its members, and against any delegate, by
imposing penalties up to and including removal from office, as provided
in the Tribal Constitution and the governing documents of the boards,
commissions and committees.
Employees,
Council members and delegates are individually responsible to assure
that all employees, Council members and delegates are impairment free
while at work. Any concerns regarding fitness for duty of employees,
Council members and delegates should be reported to the Department
Manager or Chairman or the Fit for Duty Officer.
The Drug
Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires the establishment of a policy,
employee education and reporting of workplace drug conditions. This
policy meets the requirements of that Act.
21.2 DEFINITIONS
21.2.1
"Employee" means any person employed by the Hoopa Valley
Tribe itself, its departments, programs, entities and subdivisions
operating pursuant to or under a governing document established under
the authority contained in the Constitution of the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
21.2.2
"Tribal premises" means the locations at which the Tribe
and its entities conduct governmental and business operations.
21.2.3
"Tribal entity" means the Hoopa Valley Tribe itself, its
departments, programs, entities and subdivisions operating pursuant
to or under a governing document established under authority contained
in the constitution of the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
21.2.4
"Conducting Tribal business" means performing duties for
which the employee is employed or for which the council member or
delegate is elected and being in a situation where decisions are made
or information is communicated or obtained that commit the Tribe or
a Tribal entity to some action, or being in a position where actions
could injure or adversely affect coworkers, the Tribe, or a Tribal
entity.
21.2.5
"Council member" means the Chairman, Vice Chairman, or any
other member of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council.
21.2.6
"Board, commission or committee member" means any member
of a board, commission or committee that governs or advises any Tribal
entity. For the purposes of this policy, board, commission or committee
members shall be referred to as "delegates."
21.3 APPLICATION OF THE POLICY
21.3.1
Council Members, Delegates and Employees of the Tribe and Its Entities.
This policy applies to all Council members, delegates, and employees
of the Tribe and its entities during employment, service, or duty
hours, or while conducting Tribal business. This includes pre-shift
periods, lunch breaks, or other break periods when the employee is
scheduled to return to work.
21.3.2
Independent Contractor and Vendor Employees. Independent contractors
and their employees and vendor employees are expected to be free from
the effects of drug or alcohol use or abuse while conducting business
for or in the name of the Tribe or a Tribal entity. Contractors and
their employees will be covered under this Policy from the date of
contract. As a consequence, contractor or vendor employees found to
be violating this policy will not be allowed to continue to conduct
business and their supervisor, if appropriate, will be notified. All
employees, including safety sensitive employees, of independent contractors
and vendors working for Tribal entities or on Tribal property are
subject to this alcohol and drug policy If independent contractors
and vendors use Tribal facilities for drug and alcohol screens, then
the Tribe shall be reimbursed by the independent contractor or vendor;
if independent contractors or vendors use non Tribal facilities, their
facilities selection must be from a Tribally approved list of laboratories
and doctors.
21.4 COVERED SUBSTANCES -DEFINED
21.4.1
Legal Drugs. Legally obtained drugs (prescription and non prescription
remedies) are those used according to directions to alleviate a specific
condition.
21.4.2
Illegal Drugs. Illegal drugs covered by this Policy include:
(a)
Drugs which are not legally obtainable, and;
Examples:
Marijuana, LSD, heroin
(b)
Drugs which are legally obtainable but have not been obtained legally,
and;
Examples:
Darvon, Percodan, Valium
(c)
Drugs which are legally obtained, but are knowingly used for other
than the prescribed purpose or in other than the prescribed manner,
and;
(d)
So-called "designer drugs" or drug substances not approved
for medical or other use by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration
or the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.
Examples:
MDMA or "Ecstasy"
21.4.3
Unauthorized Substances and Alcohol. Unauthorized substances,
including alcohol, mean any substance that can cause impairment of
physical and/ or mental functioning.
21.5 PROHIBITED CONDUCT
21.5.1
Any employee refusing to comply with a request, made pursuant to this
Policy, for a drug or alcohol test, with the exception of a random
selection, will be regarded as being insubordinate and will be terminated.
Any Council member or delegate refusing to comply with a request,
made pursuant to this Policy, for a drug or alcohol test, with the
exception of a random selection, shall be guilty of gross misconduct,
and shall be subject to removal from office.
(See 21.16.4 --Random Testing, Refusal to Be Tested)
21.5.2
Providing False Information and/or Attempting to Contaminate or
Alter a Urine Specimen. Any employee providing false information
about a urine specimen and/ or attempting to contaminate a urine specimen
will be terminated. Any Council member or delegate providing false
information about a urine specimen and/ or attempting to contaminate
a urine specimen shall be guilty of gross misconduct, and shall be
subject to removal from office.
21.5.3
Refusal or Failure Comply With Treatment Recommendations. Any
employee refusing or failing to comply with treatment and after-care
recommendations made pursuant to this Policy will be terminated. Any
Council member or delegate refusing or failing to comply with treatment
and aftercare recommendations made pursuant to this Policy shall be
guilty of gross misconduct, and shall be subject to removal from office.
21.5.4
Testing Positive For a Prohibited Drug, Alcohol or an Unauthorized
Substance On a Second or Subsequent Occasion. Any employee testing
positive for a prohibited drug, alcohol, or unauthorized substance
on a second or subsequent occasion within five years of a prior positive
test will be terminated. Any Council member or delegate testing positive
for a prohibited drug, alcohol, or unauthorized substance on a second
or subsequent occasion within five years of a prior positive test
shall be guilty of gross misconduct, and shall be subject to removal
from office.
21.5.5
Sale or Transfer. Any employee engaging in the sale or attempted
sale, purchase, or transfer of a prohibited drug, an unauthorized
substance, or alcohol on Tribal premises, in Tribal vehicles, or while
conducting Tribal business will be terminated. Any Council member
or delegate engaging in the sale or attempted sale, purchase, or transfer
of a prohibited drug, an unauthorized substance, or alcohol on Tribal
premises, in Tribal vehicles, or while on Tribal business shall be
guilty of gross misconduct, and shall be subject to removal from office.
Law enforcement authorities will be notified if criminal conduct is
involved.
The prohibitions
on the sale, purchase, and transfer of alcohol shall not apply to:
(a)
Tribal businesses that are authorized to sell alcoholic beverages
under a license issued pursuant to the Tribal Liquor Licensing Ordinance;
(b)
Tribally sponsored social events that comply with Section 21.22.3
of this Policy; or
(c)
private social events held on Tribal premises, if the Tribal Council
has expressly authorized alcohol consumption.
21.5.6
Possession or Use. Any employee found in possession of, or
using, an illegal drug, unauthorized substance, or alcohol, in a Tribal
vehicle or while conducting Tribal business, is subject to disciplinary
action, up to and including termination. Any Council member or delegate
found in possession of, or using, an illegal drug, unauthorized substance,
or alcohol, in a Tribal vehicle or while conducting Tribal business,
is subject to removal from office. Law enforcement authorities may
be notified if criminal conduct is involved.
21.5.7
Under the Influence. Any employee or Council member or delegate
reasonably believed to be under the influence of an illegal drug,
alcohol, or an unauthorized substance, during work hours or while
conducting Tribal business, will not be allowed to perform his or
her job or Council duties while in that condition, and will be subject
to drug and alcohol testing. Employees under the influence operating
a vehicle or mechanical equipment capable of injuring another person
or injuring another person during work hours or while conducting Tribal
business, will be terminated. Council members or delegates under the
influence operating a vehicle or mechanical equipment capable of injuring
another person or injuring another person, while conducting Tribal
business or representing the Tribe, shall be guilty of gross misconduct,
and shall be subject to removal from office. Employees under the influence
not engaged in the operation of a vehicle or of a vehicle or equipment
during work hours or while conducting Tribal business, will be subject
to disciplinary action up to and including termination. Council members
or delegates under the influence, not engaged in the operation of
equipment during work hours or while conducting Tribal business, are
guilty of gross misconduct and may be subject to removal from office.
1.6 USE OF LEGALLY OBTAINED DRUGS
21.6.1
Protection From Work. Employees and Council members or delegates
adversely affected by their use of any legally obtained drug (prescription
or non-prescription) cannot be allowed to perform their regular job
or Council duties in such a condition.
21.6.2
Notification Required. It is the responsibility of the employee
to advise his or her supervisor, and it is the responsibility of the
Council member or delegate to advise the other members of the Council,
board, commission or committee of the need to take any medication
containing a cautionary label regarding the operation of machinery
or vehicles, and of any resulting impairment. The supervisor or the
Council member or delegate shall refer the matter to the Fit for Duty
Officer, who shall consult with appropriate medical personnel before
the employee is allowed to return to his or her regular job and before
the Council member or delegate is allowed to return to his or her
duties.
21.7 POLICY COMMUNICATION
21.7.1
Current Employees and Council Members or Delegates. All current
employees and Council members or delegates will receive a copy of
this Drug and Alcohol Policy and will acknowledge receipt by signature.
21.7.2
New Employees and Council Members or Delegates. All new employees
hired after the effective date of this policy will be given a copy
of this policy as a part of new employee orientation. All Council
members or delegates elected after the effective date of this policy
will be given a copy of this policy prior to taking their oath of
office. New employees and Council members or delegates will acknowledge
in writing that they have read the policy, and such acknowledgment
will be retained in employee personnel and Council files.
21.8 TRAINING
21.8.1
Current Employees and Council Members or Delegates. All employees
or Council members or delegates will receive information and training
on the:
21.8.1.1
Effects and consequences of drug and alcohol use on personal health,
safety, and the work environment.
21.8.1.2
Manifestations and behavioral clues indicative of drug and alcohol
use and abuse.
21.8.2
Supervisors and Council Members or Delegates. All supervisors
and Council members or delegates who make reasonable cause determinations
will receive eight hours training, addition to § 21.8.1, on the
physical, behavioral and performance indicators of probable drug and
alcohol use.
21.8.3
New Hires, New Supervisors, and New Council Members or Delegates.
21.8.3.1
All newly hired employees and newly elected Council members or delegates
will participate in a drug and alcohol abuse policy and awareness
session. The session will be held for new employees at the time
of new employee orientation, and for new Council members or delegates
within thirty days of taking the oath of office.
21.8.3.2
New Supervisors and new Council members or delegates will not make
reasonable cause determinations until they participate in a supervisory
training process to acquaint them with the physical behavioral and
performance indicators of probable drug and alcohol use.
21.8.4
Refresher Training. All supervisors and Council members or
delegates who make reasonable cause determinations will receive refresher
training on the effects, signs and symptoms of substance abuse at
least every 36 months.
21.9 ROLE OF THE CONSULTING PHYSICIAN
21.9.1
Duties
21.9.1.1
Recipient of Drug and Alcohol Testing Results. The Consulting
Physician will be the sole recipient of drug and alcohol testing
results from the laboratory.
21.9.1.2
Verification of Positives. The Consulting Physician will
verify that the laboratory report of a positive result is reasonable.
When a positive test result is received, the Consulting Physician
will:
(a)
Notify the Fit for Duty Officer that the employee or Council member
or delegate is medically unqualified to continue work or to continue
Council duties pending evaluation of results.
(b)
Notify the employee or Council member or delegate of the positive
result and afford the employee or Council member or delegate an
opportunity to discuss the test results with the Consulting Physician.
The
Consulting Physician may verify a test as positive without having
communicated directly with the employee or Council member or delegate
about the test in two circumstances:
(1)
The employee or Council member or delegate expressly declines
the opportunity to discuss the test.
(2)
The Fit for Duty Officer has successfully made and documented
a contact with the employee or Council member or delegate and
instructed the employee or Council member or delegate to contact
the Consulting Physician and more than 24 hours has passed since
the time the employee or Council member or delegate was successfully
contacted by the Fit for Duty Officer.
(c)
If the employee or Council member or delegate chooses, review
the employee's or Council member or delegate's medical history,
including any medical records and biomedical information provided.
(d)
Determine whether there is a legitimate medical explanation for
the result, including legally prescribed medication.
(e)
Request, as needed, pertinent analytical records or require re-analysis
of any specimen to verify results.
(f)
Determine that there is clinical evidence, in addition to the
urine test, of unauthorized use of any opium, opiate, or opium
derivative if the laboratory does not confirm the presence of
6-monoacetylmorphine.
21.9.1.3
Post-Accident Specimen Collection Facilitation. The Consulting
Physician can assist in facilitating the collection of post-accident
specimens at hospitals.
21.9.1.4
Fit for Duty Consultation. The Consulting Physician will
be available for consultation to determine the ability of an employee
to report to work or continue work, or the ability of a Council
member or delegate to reassume or continue Council duties, when
under the influence of over-the-counter medication and/ or prescription
medication.
21.9.1.5
Return to Work Consultation. The Consulting Physician will
review the records and examine, when appropriate, all employees
and Council members or delegates returning to duty after a positive
drug urine test or breath or blood alcohol test, or wanting to return
to duty after having refused to take a drug or alcohol test. The
Consulting Physician will consult with treatment counselors, employee
assistance staff and Tribal staff when making the evaluation.
21.9.2
Test Results
21.9.2.1
Positive Test Results. The Consulting Physician will be the
exclusive recipient of positive test results from the laboratory.
The results will be released only under the following circumstances:
(a)
The Consulting Physician will report each test result (after review)
to the Fit for Duty Officer designated to receive the results.
(b)
The Consulting Physician may release the results to a third party
other than the Fit for Duty Officer only when the person test
signs an authorization for the release to an identified person.
(c)
The Consulting Physician may release the results of a drug and
alcohol test to the person who was tested.
21.9.2.2
Negative Test Results. The Consulting Physician will review
negative test results if:
(a)
Specifically requested by the Fit for Duty Officer; or
(b)
There was a questioned collection having the appearance or fact
of adulteration or specimen tampering.
21.9.3
Reporting. The Consulting Physician will only report to the
Fit for Duty Officer or alternate. Positive test of Council members
or delegates shall be reported to the Tribal Council Chairman or
Vice Chairman by the Fit for Duty Officer.
21.9.4
Relationships
21.9.4.1
Collection Site Staff. The Consulting Physician will assure
that all collection site persons are properly trained and, if
required, are licensed to draw blood.
21.9.4.2
Testing Laboratories. The Consulting Physician will be
the primary contact for technical inquiries to the testing laboratory.
21.9.4.3
Treatment and Rehabilitation Facilities. The Consulting
Physician, in conjunction with the Tribal Human Services Director,
may provide advice regarding any substance abuse treatment facility.
21.9.4.4
Employee Assistance Counselors. The Consulting Physician
will confer with the Tribal Human Services Director when evaluating
a return to duty status.
21.9.4.5
Employee and Council member or delegate Consultation. The
Consulting Physician, or another licensed physician acting on
behalf of the Consulting Physician, will consult with an employee
or Council member or delegate who has tested drug positive in
a urine specimen or alcohol positive in a breath or blood test.
The Consulting Physician, when requested, will review the medical
history, including any medical records and biomedical information
that indicates a legitimate explanation for the result, including
legally prescribed medication.
21.9.5
Reports
21.9.5.1
The Consulting Physician will retain for five years reports of
individuals who do not pass a drug and alcohol test. Reports of
individuals who do pass a drug and alcohol test will be retained
for one year.
21.9.5.2
The Consulting Physician will assist the Tribe in the preparation
of any required Federal reports.
21.10 ROLE OF THE FIT FOR DUTY OFFICER
21.10.1
Appointment. The Fit for Duty Officer and an alternate will
be appointed by the Tribal Council.
21.10.2
Reporting Authority. The Fit for Duty Officer and alternate
will be solely responsible to the Tribal Council.
21.10.3
Reports. The Fit for Duty Officer will provide the following
reports to the Tribal Council on a regular basis:
(a)
General status of the Fit for Duty program.
(b)
General statistics and information regarding the effectiveness
of the program, such as: number of positive tests by testing category,
number of referrals to Mental Health, number of employees in re-entry
contracts, budget utilization, and legal issues.
21.10.4
Relationships. As it relates to Fit for Duty issues, the
Fit for Duty Officer will be the principal liaison with Tribal Department
of Human Services, Legal Department and the Consulting Physician.
21.10.5
Duties and Responsibilities.
21.10.5.1
Custodian of the Fit for Duty Policy. The Fit for Duty
Officer will be responsible to assure the policy is being uniformly
enforced and will suggest to the Tribal Council from time to time,
additions and deletions to the policy or special emphasis to assure
the policy is being uniformly enforced.
21.10.5.2
Drug Testing Review. The Fit for Duty Officer will be consulted
before a reasonable cause, post accident/ incident test is administered
or before an employee or Council member or delegate refusing a
drug test is suspended.
21.10.5.3
Random Selection Administration. The Fit for Duty Officer
shall administer the random selection process using methods and
programs to assure that random selection of employees and Council
members or delegates is scientifically valid, confidential and
free from manipulation.
21.10.5.4
Maintenance of Records. The Fit for Duty Officer shall
be the exclusive custodian of:
(a)
Drug testing results and related documentation communicated
by the Consulting Physician.
(b)
Periodic random drug testing procedures and selections.
21.10.5.5
Administration of Program. The Fit for Duty Officer shall
be responsible for the development and administration of the budget
as it relates to Fit for Duty issues, including but not limited
to:
(a)
Drug tests,
(b)
Consulting Physician fees,
(c)
Random selection fees,
(d)
Maintenance of records, and
(e)
Utilization of consultants for policy implementation, training
and maintenance.
21.11 TESTING FOR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
21.11.1
Urine, Blood, and Breath Specimens. When tests are required
pursuant to this policy, employees and Council members or delegates
will have one urine specimen and possibly a breath and/ or blood specimen
collected for the examination of drugs and alcohol.
21.11.2
Drugs to be Tested. Applicants/ employees and Council members
or delegates may request a split specimen be collected. All costs
of storage and testing of the second split specimen will be paid for
by the employee or Council member or delegate. Employees, Council
members or delegates testing positive may request a reconfirmation
of the originally collected specimen or a split specimen.
21.12 PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING
21.12.1
Pre-employment Testing Defined. Applicants being considered
for employment and scheduled for a pre-employment evaluation will
have their urine tested for drug substances as part of the pre-employment
evaluation process. Drug testing clearance will be completed before
an offer of employment is considered final and before a work assignment
is given. Newly elected Council members or delegates will be urine
tested within 10 working days of election.
21.12.2
Notification of Testing Requirement. Applicants will be notified
of the requirement to pass a urine drug test at the time of application.
21.12.3
Reapplication After a Positive Test. Applicants who test positive
without adequate explanation of the results will not be considered
for an available position for 180 days. Proof of wellness will be
required for future consideration.
21.13 REASONABLE CAUSE TESTING
21.13.1
Reasonable Cause Testing Generally. All employees and Council
members or delegates will be subject to a fit for duty evaluation,
including drug and alcohol testing if appropriate, if there is reasonable
cause to believe that drug and alcohol/substance use, emotional distress,
or personal health problems are adversely affecting job performance
or performance of Council duties, or are endangering the safety of
employees or the public.
21.13.2
Reasonable Cause Defined. Reasonable cause for drug and alcohol
testing means job-related facts, circumstances, physical evidence,
physical signs and symptoms or a pattern of job-related performance
and/ or behavior that would cause a trained supervisor or trained
Council member or delegate to reasonably conclude an employee or Council
member or delegate may have engaged in on the job drug or alcohol
use, or may, while on the job or performing Council duties, be under
the influence of some drug/ substance including alcohol.
21.14 POST-ACCIDENT/ INCIDENT TESTING
21.14.1
Post-Accident/ Incident Testing Defined. An Accident/ incident
is defined as the occurrence of a serious or potentially serious event
that may have been caused by human error and/ or violations of established
safety, security, or other operating procedures and an employee or
Council member or delegate, in the course of his or her employment
or representation of the Tribe or a Tribal entity, or while conducting
Tribal business, either contributed to the occurrence or cannot be
completely discounted as a contributing factor. An accident/ incident
for testing purposes is further defined as:
(a)
One in which a person dies; or
(b)
A person is taken to a medical treatment facility; or
(c)
An injury, accident, near miss incident or property damage incident
occurring during the course of employment or representation of the
Tribe or a Tribal entity, or while conducting Tribal business; or
(d)
A vehicle accident occurs and a hazardous substance requiring placarding
was being transported by a vehicle of the Tribe or Tribal entity
and the employee or Council member or delegate either contributed
to the accident/ incident or cannot be completely discounted as
a contributing factor.
21.14.2
Referral to Employee Assistance. Any employee experiencing
a time loss injury in excess of 30 days will be encouraged to meet
with a mental health coordinator upon returning to work.
21.14.3
Initiating a Request for Post-Accident/Incident Testing. A
request for post-accident drug and alcohol testing may be initiated
only by an employee's supervisor, or in the case of a Council member
or delegate, only by the Council board, commission or committee Chairman.
In deciding whether to initiate a request for post-accident/ incident
testing, the supervisor or Council board commission or committee Chairman
shall determine, based on eye witness reports, facts of the event
or observed physical and behavioral characteristics of the employee
or Council member or delegate involved in the accident, whether the
accident meets one or more of the criteria set forth in Section 21.13.1.
21.14.4
Next Level Authorization Required. An employee or Council member
or delegate will not be requested to submit to post-accident/incident
testing unless the Fit for Duty Officer, after conferring with the
supervisor or Council Chairman who initiated the request and after
reviewing the grounds on which the request was initiated, agrees that
the accident meets one or more of the criteria set forth in Section
21.14.1.
21.15 RETURN TO DUTY TESTING
21.15.1
Return to Duty Testing Defined. An employee or Council member
or delegate will be required to pass drug and alcohol tests before
being returned to duty if that employee or Council member or delegate
had previously failed a urine, blood, or breath test for drugs or
alcohol.
21.15.2
Role of Consulting Physician and Fit for Duty Officer in Return
to Duty. In addition to the employee or Council member or delegate
passing the drug and alcohol tests, approval must be received from
the Consulting Physician and the Fit for Duty Officer before the employee
or Council member or delegate may return to duty.
21.15.3
Unannounced Drug Tests. An employee or Council member or delegate
requiring return to duty drug and alcohol testing may be subject to
unannounced drug and alcohol tests for up to 60 months after returning
to work or returning to Council duties.
21.16 RANDOM TESTING
21.16.1
Random Testing Defined. Random testing means that:
(a)
Persons described in section 21.16.6 infra, which the Hoopa Valley
Tribe finds are in safety sensitive occupations, will be subject
to a scientifically supportable random selection process for drug
and alcohol testing;
(b)
Subject to §§ 21.16.1( a) and 21.16.7, all safety sensitive
employees will have an equal chance to be selected at all times;
(c)
The drug tests are unannounced.
21.16.2
Selection Rate. Selections will be made at a rate of 100% per
year. This means that the total number of random tests shall be equal
to the total number of employees, Council member or delegates in the
random selection pool. Employees in a seasonal stand-by status will
be tested at a rate of 200% per year.
21.16.3
Notification. Employees, Council member or delegates notified
of a random selection will have no more than two hours to report to
the designated specimen collection site. Failure to report in the
required time frame will be regarded as a refusal to be tested.
21.16.4
Refusal To Be Tested. An employee or Council member or delegate
refusing to be random tested shall be immediately suspended from work
or duties without pay for a period of up to 60 days. The employee
or Council member or delegate shall not be permitted to resume their
normal duties until cleared by Tribal Human Services, which clearance
shall include a negative urine screen. After 60 days the employee,
Council member or delegate again refusing to be random tested will
be terminated or removed from office.
21.16.5
Urinalysis or Assessment. Solely in respect to random testing,
employees, contractors, board members and Council members subject
to random testing, as set forth in § 21.16.6, and selected for
random testing, shall have the choice either:
(a)
to supply a urine specimen; or
(b)
to attend an assessment carried out by personnel qualified to assess
whether or not a person is presently under the influence of drugs
or alcohol; the assessment may consist of observation, standard
questions, completion by the assessee of a certification that she
or he is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and physical
acuity tests; but an assessment shall not, except as set forth in
this paragraph infra., call for supplying a urine, blood, or breath
specimen; if the assessor certifies that an assessee is under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, then the assessee shall be deemed
subject to reasonable cause testing, requiring the assessee to then
supply a urine sample; or
21.16.6
Safety Sensitive Defined. Random testing shall be required
of employees, contractors, board members and Council members who:
(a)
during the preceding year of their Tribal employment, to be updated
annually in January of each year, operated a Tribal vehicle or their
own private vehicle on Tribal business; or
(b)
operate or oversee the operation of equipment that poses a substantial
risk of serious injury to staff, colleagues or the public; or
(c)
medical personnel; or
(d)
occupy jobs requiring representation of the Tribe or components
of the Tribe to the public, including but not limited to children
and students; or
(e)
law enforcement personnel.
21.16.7
Random Testing Intervals. Subject to § 21.16.1( a) and
(b), each person subject to random drug testing shall be tested, by
urinalysis or by assessment, at least once each two years.
21.16.8
Written Confirmation of Random Selection. Persons subject to
random drug screens shall, if they so request, receive independent
confirmation, by documentation, that their name was randomly selected.
21.17 SPECIMEN COLLECTION
21.17.1
Specimen Collection Sites. Urine, blood, and/ or breath specimens
will be selected at sites approved by the Tribal Fit for Duty Officer.
21.17.2
Specimen Collection Persons. The only persons authorized to
collect specimens are as follows:
(a)
Urine -Persons trained in the NIDA collection protocol.
(b)
Blood -Persons authorized by state or federal law to draw blood
specimens
(c)
Breath Alcohol -Persons trained to administer the test.
21.17.3
Specimen Collection Protocol. Breath, blood and urine specimens
will be collected strictly in accordance with established collection
protocols and, in the case of urine, will strictly adhere to the urine
collection requirements specified in 49 CFR Part 40, "Procedures
for Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs." All collection
sites will have a breath, blood and urine collection protocol on file.
21.18 LABORATORY PROCEDURES
21.18.1
Approved Laboratory Defined. Only laboratories systems approved
for the testing of urine specimens by the U. S. Department of Health
and Human Services, National Institute on Drug Abuse, will be used.
Examination of blood should be conducted at the same laboratory whenever
practical and technically feasible.
21.18.2
Testing Procedures. The laboratory shall conduct urine tests
in conformance with CAP and/ or NIDA protocols and standards. Blood
and breath alcohol tests shall be in conformance with the standards
of the California Highway Patrol.
21.18.3
Request for Reexamination. Within three days of notification
of a positive test, an employee, Council member or delegate may request
in writing to the Fit for Duty Officer the reexamination of any positive
urine drug test. The remaining portion of the originally collected
specimen will be reconfirmed at the original testing laboratory or
at a laboratory acceptable to the Consulting Physician and the employee,
Council member or delegate. All costs associated with the reconfirmation
will be paid by the employee, Council member or delegate.
21.19 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
21.19.1
Reasonable Cause and Post Accident Testing. Supervisors and
Council Chairman (with respect to the testing of other Council members
or delegates) are expected to base the initiation of testing requests
on objective observations and to thoroughly document all steps.
21.19.2
Confidentiality. Supervisors, Managers, and Council, board,
commission or committee Chairman will communicate information regarding
a fit for duty incident strictly on a need to know basis. (See Section
21.21.1.3 --Penalties for Breach of Confidentiality.)
21.19.3
Random Selection Notification. Supervisors, Managers and Council,
board, commission or committee Chairman who fail to promptly arrange
and notify employees of random selection will be regarded as neglecting
their responsibilities.
21.19.4
Accountability. Supervisors/managers who knowingly disregard
the requirement of this policy with respect to fit for duty concerns
will be subject to termination. Council members or delegates who knowingly
disregard the requirements of this policy with respect to fit for
duty concerns shall be guilty of neglect of duty or gross misconduct,
and shall be subject to removal from office.
21.20 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE AND REHABILITATION
21.20.1
Intent. Employees and Council members or delegates who voluntarily
seek assistance in dealing with emotional distress, personal health
problems or problems relating to alcohol or illegal drug and alcohol
abuse will be immediately referred to the Tribal mental health program.
Employees, Council members or delegates, or members of their immediate
family may also self-refer to the Tribal mental health program.
21.20.2
Employee Assistance Defined. Employee Assistance is defined
as diagnostic, referral and short-term mental health counseling and
drug and alcohol dependency assessment.
21.20.3
Drug and Alcohol Assessment Defined. Assessments will be conducted
in a manner consistent with the DSM-111-R diagnostic manual.
21.20.4
Voluntary Self-Referrals. Council members or delegates, employees,
and family members who self-refer are assured of confidentiality,
and unless specific personnel policies direct otherwise, no job jeopardy
or removal from office will result.
21.20.5
Management Referrals. Employees who are referred as part of
supervisory performance counseling or intervention are assured of
confidentiality. Only those in the chain of responsibility may be
aware of a treatment request.
21.20.6
Employee and Council member or delegate Accountability for Conduct.
Employees and Council members or delegates are still accountable for
performance problems. If an employee or Council member or delegate
is experiencing performance problems or disciplinary action is pending,
a request for help will be treated as a separate but related issue.
In no case will disciplinary amnesty be granted to employees or Council
members or delegates asking for assistance and referral. However,
disciplinary action may be deferred pending successful completion
of a treatment process.
21.20.7
Fit for Duty Referrals. Employees and Council members or delegates
who are required to be assessed for possible emotional and/ or substance
abuse problems before returning to work or resuming Council or delegate
duties are assured that the content of any communication is confidential.
The Human Services Director will communicate with the Fit for Duty
Officer (or in the case of a Council member or delegate, with the
Council, board, commission or committee Chairman) the following information:
(a)
Date and times of attendance;
(b)
Prognosis and good faith progress;
(c)
Specific work limitations.
21.20.8
Return to Duty Evaluation. The Mental Health Coordinator and
Consulting Physician will evaluate the return to duty status of all
employees and Council member or delegates referred to treatment (other
than self referrals) and employees and Council member or delegates
testing positive to a urine, blood, or breath test. The Mental Health
Coordinator will also participate in the execution subject to confidentiality
requirements, a reentry contract.
21.20.9
Reporting. The Fit for Duty Officer will provide the Tribal
Council with a quarterly report indicating the number of Council member
or delegate/employee/ family member contacts, a breakdown by counseling
issue, and disposition of the cases.
21.20.10
Confidentiality and Conduct. A direct request by the employee
or Council member or delegate for assistance will not be made a part
of the employee's personnel file or the Council member or delegate's
file. However, any related performance issues or disciplinary action
cannot be held confidential.
21.20.11
Freedom From Discrimination. Employees will not have job security
or promotional opportunities jeopardized solely because of a request
for help.
21.20.12
Reentry to work or Council Duties
21.20.12.1
After Mandatory Referral. Employees re-entering the work
force and Council members or delegates resuming Council, or delegate
duties after a mandatory referral for a fit for duty issue will
agree to a reentry contract. That contract may include, but is not
limited to:
(a)
A release to work statement from an approved treatment specialist.
(b)
Evidence of a plan setting out after care and follow-up treatment
procedures with the mental health coordinator or a treatment specialist
or Consulting Physician for a minimum of one year. Longer periods
of follow-up may be specified by the mental health coordinator.
(c)
A review and release for work by the Fit for Duty Officer, Human
Services Director and the Consulting Physician.
(d) A negative test for drugs, unauthorized substances, and alcohol.
(e)
An agreement to unannounced drug and alcohol testing.
(f)
A statement of expected work-related behaviors.
(g)
Specific agreement by the employee or Council member or delegate
that violation of the agreement will be grounds for dismissal
or removal from office.
21.20.12.2
After Voluntary Self-Referral. Employees and Council members
or delegates self-referring to a substance abuse treatment program
with the prior knowledge of their supervisor or the (or in the case
of Council members or delegate, with the prior knowledge of the
Council), and who utilize Tribal benefits, must agree to a reentry
contract. The contract will include:
(a)
A release to work statement from an approved treatment specialist.
(b)
An evaluation from the mental health coordinator.
(c)
An evaluation and release to work by the Personnel Director.
21.21 CONFIDENTIALITY, RECORD KEEPING AND REPORTS
21.21.1
Confidentiality
21.21.1.1
Test Results. All written reports and test results will be
regarded as confidential personnel records and medical data and
will not be filed in an employee's general performance file or in
a Council file that is open to the public. The fact that a request
for a test has been made, all information leading up and used in
making a decision to test, the contents of any such report, and
the results of a test shall be confidential and shall be communicated
on a strict need-to-know basis.
21.21.1.2
Mental Health Referrals. Any knowledge of an employee's or
Council member or delegate's attendance at mental health or a substance
abuse treatment program will be treated the same as medical data
and will not be filed in an employee's general performance file
or in a Council file that is open to the public. The status of an
employee's or Council member or delegate's involvement with mental
health and/ or substance abuse treatment shall be confidential and
shall be communicated on a strict need-to-know basis.
21.21.1.3
Penalties for Breach of Confidentiality. Negligent violation
by an employee of any confidentiality standard in this Policy will
result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Subsequent
negligent violation or any willful violation by the employee will
result in immediate termination. Negligent or willful violation
by a Council member or delegate of any confidentiality standard
in this Policy shall constitute neglect of duty and/ or gross misconduct,
and shall subject the Council member or delegate to removal from
office.
21.21.2
Record Keeping
21.21.2.1
Test Results. Original laboratory test results will be maintained
by the Consulting Physician. Results reported to the Tribe will
be kept by the Fit for Duty Officer. Records of positive results
will be retained for five years. Records of negative results will
be retained for one year.
21.21.2.2
Collection Records. All records relating to the urine collection
process will be maintained in cooperation with the Consulting Physician
and the collection site (if other than the Consulting Physician
and/ or on-site collection). The records of employees, applicants,
and Council members or delegates testing positive will be retained
for five years. Records of applicants, employees, and Council members
or delegates testing negative will be retained for one year.
21.21.2.3
Administrative Records. All records relating to the administration
of the Fit for Duty policy including policy and program development,
employee awareness and supervisory training, collection site training,
and program administration will be retained for ten years.
21.22 BUSINESS USE OF ALCOHOL
21.22.1
Never a Business Obligation. The consumption of alcohol should
never be considered a business obligation.
21.22.2
Separation of Business and Business Entertainment. Employees
shall not consume beverages containing alcohol whole conducting business.
Conducting business is defined as any event where the interest of
the Tribe or a Tribal entity are being obligated and/ or represented.
Business entertainment can be defined as events where the primary
purpose is friendship and socialization. When in doubt, the best advice
is don't drink. Lunch, with the expectation of returning to business
or the workplace, is not considered business entertainment.
21.22.3
Tribal Sponsored Social Events. The following steps will be
adhered to at events sponsored by the Tribe and Tribal entities (e.
g. Christmas party, Tribal dances):
21.22.3.1
Alcohol shall not be served or used unless prior approval has been
received from the Tribal Council.
21.22.3.2
At any event where alcohol is served, food and non-alcoholic beverages
will be served also.
21.22.3.3
A management level person shall see that any overserved or intoxicated
attendees are provided transportation home.
22.23 PROCEDURAL EFFECT
This amendment
to the Tribal Drug and Alcohol Policy is intended to supersede any preceding
Tribal Drug and Alcohol Policy and to nullify conflicting or inconsistent
Tribal law; this amendment shall, insofar as lawful under Tribal law
and insofar as not detrimental to the interests of the Hoopa Valley
Tribe and the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council, be retroactive in effect.
CERTIFICATION
I, the
undersigned, as Chairman of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council, do hereby
certify: that the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council is composed of eight (8)
members, of which six (6), constituting a quorum, participated in and
signed a Special Consent on the 22nd day of February, 1996; that this
Ordinance was thereby duly adopted by a vote of five (5) in favor, zero
(0) opposed, and zero (0) abstaining; the Chairman not voting; and that
since its approval this Ordinance has not been rescinded, amended, or
modified in any way.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1996.
____________________________________
Dale Risling, Sr., Chairman
Hoopa Valley Tribal Council
ATTEST:________________________________
Darcy Baldy, Executive Secretary
Hoopa Valley Tribal Council
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