Florida orders drug tests of state workers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 23 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott is ordering random drug testing of many state employees and all applicants for state jobs, the governor said.

"Floridians deserve to know that those in public service … are part of a drug-free workplace," he said in issuing his executive order Tuesday, The News Service of Florida reported.

Scott also is proposing drug testing for welfare applicants. Such a bill passed a state Senate committee unanimously Tuesday.

Current staff in agencies under the governor's control would be subject to random screening, with each employee being tested at least quarterly. All new hires would be subject to testing.

State agencies already are allowed to screen job applicants and employees suspected of drug use.

The American Civil Liberties Union said Scott's order violates a 2004 federal court ruling that found the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice transgressed the Fourth Amendment in ordering random drug testing.

"I'm not sure why Gov. Scott does not know that the policy he recreated by executive order today has already been declared unconstitutional," ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said. "The state of Florida cannot force people to surrender their constitutional rights in order to work for the state."