Statement of L Nye Stevens Before the House Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service Concerning Federal Employee Drug Testing, May 20, 1987

• NCJ Number: 110162
• Author(s): L N Stevens
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A representative of the General Accounting Office comments on the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) guidelines for establishing a drug-free Federal workplace and the Department of Health and Human Services' companion technical guidelines concerning the operation of drug testing programs.

Abstract

The GAO believes that the technical guidelines do not give adequate details on how certain aspects of how the testing programs will operate. Programs may not be uniform, because agency interpretations of some requirements may vary considerably and thus similarly situated employees may not be assured similar treatment. In addition, the guidelines do not fully address employee rights. Moreover, no provision exists for continuing, centralized oversight. Furthermore, the cost of the program is unknown. Each agency needs sufficient flexibility to implement a testing program that is responsive to its individual needs and resources. However, a more detailed set of standards are needed to ensure that a sound, consistent, and defensible set of programs are implemented throughout the Government.