Public Laws

123rd Legislature

First Regular Session



Chapter 339

S.P. 306 - L.D. 955

An Act To Amend the Employment Practices Law Regarding Substance Abuse Testing of Temporary Workers

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §683, sub-§4,  as enacted by PL 1989, c. 536, §§1 and 2 and affected by c. 604, §§2 and 3, is amended to read:

4. Consent forms prohibited.   No An employer may not require, request or suggest that any employee or applicant sign or agree to any form or agreement that attempts to:
A.  Absolve the employer from any potential liability arising out of the imposition of the substance abuse test; or
B.  Waive an employee's or applicant's rights or eliminate or diminish an employer's obligations under this subchapter except as provided in subsection 4-A.

Any form or agreement prohibited by this subsection is void.

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §683, sub-§4-A  is enacted to read:

4-A Waivers for temporary employment.   An employment agency, as defined in section 611, may request a written waiver for a temporary placement from an individual already in its employ or on a roster of eligibility as long as the client company has an approved substance abuse testing policy and the individual has not been assigned work at the client company in the 30 days previous to the request. The waiver is only to allow a test that might not otherwise be allowed under this subchapter. The test must otherwise comply with the standards of this subchapter and the employment agency's approved policy regarding applicant testing. The agency may not take adverse action against the individual for refusal to sign a waiver.

Effective September 20, 2007

Office of the Revisor of Statutes
State House, Room 108
Augusta, ME 04333