Alaska recently passed Senate Bill 196, introducing saliva testing as an approved method for drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. This legislation expands Alaska’s “safe harbor” laws to include oral fluid tests alongside the previously permitted urine and breath tests.
The bill received broad support from various organizations, including the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Power Association, and the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, highlighting its anticipated positive impact on workplace safety and efficiency. This legislation aligns with the 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation regulations that permit and sometimes mandate the use of oral fluid testing.
The law is effective on October 28, 2024.
