CHAPTER 35

 

An Act concerning drug testing by boards of education and amending N.J.S.18A:16-2.


    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:


    1. N.J.S.18A:16-2 is amended to read as follows:


Physical examinations; requirements.

    18A:16-2. a. Every board of education shall require all of its employees, and may require any candidate for employment, to undergo a physical examination, the scope whereof shall be determined under rules of the State board, at least once in every year and may require additional individual psychiatric or physical examinations of any employee, whenever, in the judgment of the board, an employee shows evidence of deviation from normal, physical or mental health.

    Any such examination may, if the board so requires, include laboratory tests or fluoroscopic or X-ray procedures for the obtaining of additional diagnostic data.

    b. A board of education may include testing for usage of controlled dangerous substances as they are defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2 as part of any physical examination which is required of a candidate for employment who has received a conditional offer of employment. Any testing shall be conducted by a physician or institution designated by the board of education and the costs shall be paid by the board.

    The Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall develop guidelines for school boards which elect to require the testing.


    2. This act shall take effect immediately.


    Approved June 18, 1996.