DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Revisions to Administrative Policy Number 43 - Drug Free Workplace
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve proposed revisions to Administrative Policy 43 - Drug Free Workplace, which will rename the policy to “Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace,” will remove the Policy Provisions section, and authorize the County Administrative Officer or designee for developing procedures to ensure adherence to this policy
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will adopt revisions to Administrative Policy (AP) 43 - Drug Free Workplace, which will rename the policy to “Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace,” will remove the Policy Provisions section, and authorize the County Administrative Officer (CAO) or designee for developing procedures to ensure adherence to this policy. Approval of the recommended revisions will provide greater clarity in the County’s commitment to maintaining an alcohol and drug-free workplace by ensuring all County employees and volunteers report to work fit for duty and remain capable of safely and effectively performing their duties. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to not approve the revisions to this AP in which case the current version of the AP would still apply.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the Recommended Action.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed revisions to AP 43, would rename the policy to “Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace,” which will maintain the County’s commitment to providing a safe and drug-free workplace, require all County employees and volunteers to report to work fit for duty, maintain workplace safety, and will outline the responsibilities of employees and management for supporting a drug-free workplace.
Formatting and structure updates are included in the recommended revisions to this AP, which will remove the procedural pieces currently under the Policy Provisions section and will assign the provisions under its associated Management Directive (MD). The recommended revisions will authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee for developing procedures through MDs to ensure adherence to this policy.
The proposed revisions maintain the County's prohibitions on the use, possession, sale, manufacture, or provision of alcohol or drugs while on duty, at assigned work locations, on standby, or while representing the County. This AP applies to alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medications, and non-prescription medications when in their use impairs an employee's ability to safely and effectively perform assigned County duties.
Under the corresponding MD, employees are required to notify their supervisor before beginning work when taking any medications, prescribed or nonprescribed that may interfere with the safe and effective performance of their duties or the operation of County equipment. The recommended revisions will provide employees and supervisors with an opportunity to address a potential impairment before it affects workplace safety or job performance.
The Management Responsibility section of the Policy will also clarify management's responsibility for supporting an alcohol- and drug-free workplace, ensuring compliance with the policy, training supervisors, providing employees with information and educational resources, and making the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to employees who voluntarily seek assistance.
Approval of the Recommended Action would provide consistent guidance and greater clarity in maintaining an alcohol and drug-free workplace.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
AP 43 - Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace (Redline)
AP 43 - Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace (Clean)
CAO ANALYST:
George Uc