Opinion ID: 1933904
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Drug Testing Law.

Text: Before we review the factual circumstances of this case, we think it is helpful to understand the statutory context within which the events giving rise to this unemployment compensation claim arose. Therefore, we now examine the law governing employee drug testing as that law existed in 1996 and 1997. At that time, Iowa Code section 730.5(2) stated as follows: Except as provided in subsection 7, [1] an employer shall not require or request employees or applicants for employment to submit to a drug test as a condition of employment, preemployment, promotion, or change in status of employment. An employer shall not request, require, or conduct random or blanket drug testing of employees. [2] Section 730.5 also provides, however, that this section does not prohibit an employer from requiring a specific employee to submit to a drug test if certain conditions are met, including probable cause to believe that an employee's faculties are impaired on the job. Iowa Code § 730.5(3)(a). We turn now to the facts of the case.