The House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee heard HB 1134 on drug addiction workforce recovery program, authored by Rep. Davisson. The bill requires the division of mental health and addiction (division) to establish a drug addiction workforce recovery program (program). The program would assist employers who have recently hired or offered to hire individuals who are qualified for employment with the employer and have failed an initial drug screening, to employ the individual if the individual agrees to participate in a drug education and addiction treatment program as a condition of employment. The bill establishes requirements for the program and provides that the division may allow an employer to deduct from the employee’s wages to pay for a part of the employee’s drug education and addiction treatment services if the employee has assigned the wages. The bill also requires that the department of workforce development and the state department of health assist the division in administering the program. In addition, the bill provides that if an employer and employee comply with the program, the employer is not liable in a civil action alleging negligent hiring for negligence of the employee and allows the department of workforce development to develop an incentive program for employers who participate in the program.
The bill was supported by the following organizations: Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Institute for Families, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Mental Health America of Indiana, Indiana Public Defender Council, Indiana Manufacturers Association, and the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. The bill passed as amended, 11-1.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/house/1134