CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2441 today, aiming to disqualify certain workers from receiving unemployment benefits if they fail drug or alcohol tests.
The bill, which passed with a 34-0 vote, now returns to the House of Delegates for concurrence.
Under this proposed legislation, employees in positions where substance use poses inherent health and safety risks, or those in safety-sensitive roles as defined by state law, would be ineligible for unemployment benefits if they fail random drug or alcohol screenings.
The bill previously passed the House of Delegates on March 6 with unanimous support.
The bill was introduced by Delegate George Street (R-Preston).
A fiscal note from Workforce West Virginia indicates that the bill would not impact state revenues or expenses, as individuals failing such tests would simply be deemed ineligible for unemployment benefits.
With the Senate’s approval, the bill now awaits the House’s concurrence before it can be presented to the governor for final approval.
