Palm Beach State College Board Procedure

This procedure supports the College’s expectation that applicants and volunteers for designated positions uphold a drug-free environment in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, and applicable Florida Statutes.

Applicants for designated positions who receive a conditional offer of employment must pass the required drug test as a condition of hire. Refusal by an applicant, volunteer, or employee to submit to a drug test authorized by the College is a violation of this policy and will result in denial of employment or disciplinary action.

Anyone who tests positive for the initial drug test may request a retest within five days of being notified by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) associated with the College’s drug testing vendor. The College will cover the cost of the initial drug test and the retest.

Applicant: A person who has applied for or volunteered to serve in designated position with the College and has received a conditional offer of employment, contingent upon successfully passing a drug test.

Clear result: No drugs were detected in the specimen.

Drug test: A medically approved screening procedure performed by a certified laboratory used to detect the presence or absence of controlled substances or their metabolites.

Medical Review Officer (MRO): Licensed physician associated with the contracted drug testing vendor, trained to interpret drug test results, medical history, or any other biomedical information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. They make the final determination of the donor's test results.

Non-clear result: Drugs were detected in the specimen.

Designated positions: Positions in this category include finance, facilities, clinical faculty and instructors, lab personnel, procurement, public safety, safety and security, theater, trades instructors, and President’s Cabinet.

The following is the drug test procedure:

Provide Drug Test Information
Human Resources informs applicants and volunteers, both verbally and in writing, that they must complete a drug test within five (5) business days of being notified. Human Resources and background check vendors will provide testing instructions, the testing locations, and any required authorization forms.

Incomplete or Delayed Test
The contingent offer will be rescinded if the individual fails to complete the drug screen by the required deadline. Reasonable extensions may be considered only in documented, exceptional circumstances (e.g., a medical emergency) and must be approved by the Talent Acquisition Manager or their designee before the deadline.

Process for a Non-Clear Result
Human Resources informs the applicant of the result within five (5) business days from receipt of the non-clear result. Applicants may request a copy of the results and a confirmation test from Human Resources. If approved, they must retake the drug test within five (5) business days. If not taken within the five-day period, the offer will be rescinded. The results of the confirmation test, as reviewed by the MRO, will be considered final.

Appeals or Disputes 
Applicants or volunteers who dispute the accuracy of a confirmed non-clear result may submit supporting medical documentation directly to the MRO for consideration.  The MRO will make a final determination based on the additional information and retest results. No further appeals will be accepted after the MRO’s final determination is issued.

Final Employment Determination
Individuals who pass the drug test proceed to the final onboarding process. For non-clear results, the contingent offer will be rescinded. Human Resources will notify the applicant or volunteer in writing of the final employment decision.