LEGAL NEWS Legislators OK Bill to Allow Firearms in Florida Schools


A Florida House committee approved a bill that would allow trained officials to carry firearms in schools. Sponsored by Greg Steube (R-Sarasota), HB 753 was approved in an 8-4 vote by the House Justice Appropriations committee. The legislation grants schools the option to appoint former or current law enforcement officers and former or current military officers with state legislated training to carry firearms on campus. All


officers would be required to attend 40 hours of school-safety training and eight hours of active shooter training annually. They would also need four hours of firearm qualification each year. The officers would be required to have a carry-and-conceal permit. Representatives for the Florida School Board Association and Parent Teacher Association opposed the bill. Representatives of the PTA believe it would be better to invest in school resource officers and intervention programs. The bill now goes to the Judiciary Committee.


Read more


New Georgia Law Helps Protect Employers from Negligent Hiring and Retention Claims On April 13, 2014, Georgia's governor signed SB 365 to, in part, protect employers that hire and retain employees with criminal convictions. Under the new law, if the Department of Corrections issues a "Program and Treatment Completion Certificate" (the Certificate) or the State Board of Pardons and Paroles grants a pardon (as defined by applicable law) to an ex-offender, an employer will be presumed to have exercised due care in hiring, retaining, or otherwise engaging in activity with, the ex-offender who received the Certificate or pardon. This presumption may be rebutted by relevant evidence that extends beyond the scope of the Certificate or pardon and that was known or should have been known by the employer. Georgia joins other states that have tried to protect employers from negligent hiring and retention claims. However, with more states and localities limiting employers from performing criminal background checks on applicants or employees, or from considering criminal records in personnel decisions, there is concern that a growing number of jurisdictions have failed to provide sufficient protection from negligent hiring and supervision claims arising from criminal conduct committed by employees. Employers therefore should continue to vet applicants carefully, consistent with the law in their jurisdictions.


Read more DRUG SCREENING


Drug Testing Index™ Reports Drug Use Among American Workers Declined 74%


Over the Past 25 Years, Finds Unprecedented Analysis of More Than 125 Million Workplace Urine Tests


Drug use among American workers declined dramatically over the past 25 years, although the rate of positive test results for certain drugs, including amphetamine and


opiates, continues to climb, according to a landmark analysis of workplace drug test results released by Quest Diagnostics.


“Today’s Que st Diagnostics Drug Testing Index provides the best evidence to date that the Drug-Free Workplace Act and the public and private initiatives it helped to spur have led to steep declines in drug use among much of the American workforce,” said Laura Shelton,


executive director, Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association


(DATIA). “While more needs to be done to reduce illicit drug use by workers, we should take heart from the tremendous progress employers have made to create safer workplaces for millions of Americans.”


The DTI analysis examined more than 125 million urine drug tests performed by Quest Diagnostics forensic toxicology laboratories across the United States as a service for government and private employers between 1988 and 2012. The analysis examined the annual positivity rate for employees in positions subject to certain federal safety regulations, such as truck drivers, train operators, airline and nuclear power plant workers (federally mandated safety-sensitive workers); workers primarily from private companies (U.S. general workforce); and the results of both groups together (combined U.S. workforce).


To read the key findings from the analysis 22


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26