Iowa House OKs use hair for workplace drug testing

DES MOINES - The GOP-led Iowa House voted 75-20 Monday to approve Senate File 32, which allows hair samples for pre-employment workplace drug-testing.

Iowa law already lets companies demand blood, urine, saliva or breath samples from workers, for random drug tests.

The bill, as approved by the Senate, 35-15, would add hair to that list.

However, the House voted 96-0 to limit the use of hair samples to pre-employment drug testing.

The House then voted 75-20 to approve the Senate File 32, which bill manager Rep. Jarad Klein, R-Keota, said would help employers 'assure a safe and drug-free workplace.”

If the Senate accepts the amendment, the bill will go to the governor.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

The House also voted 96-0 to change regulations on bass fishing tournaments on public waters to allow contestants to keep five fish, rather than three, to weigh as long as the fish are released after the weigh-in.

Senate File 257 also moved the regulations from administrative rules to state law.

Iowa has more than 400 bass fishing tournaments a year, Rep. Peter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, said.

The bill passed the Senate 50-0.