The Oregon Senate Committee on Labor and Business recently listened to public testimony about Senate Bill 748. This bill would allow the Employment Department to test individuals applying for unemployment benefits for drugs, especially if they were fired for drug use or are employed in fields that regularly require drug testing, such as truck driving or piloting. Senator David Brock Smith emphasized issues between employers and employees related to drug use, noting these problems aren’t adequately addressed. Lindsay Leahy, the Unemployment Insurance Division Director with the Oregon Employment Department, clarified current regulations for providing unemployment benefits and responded to questions regarding whether drug testing could speed up job placement.

The bill suggests that employees who are free from drugs should be allowed to undergo drug tests within the department, opening the door to possible reemployment. However, critics of the bill, including representatives from the Oregon AFL-CIO, Oregon AFSCME Council, and Oregon Law Center, argue that it puts additional hurdles in the path of people seeking social benefits, potentially worsening their situations. Martha Sonato from the Oregon Law Center highlighted that existing laws already disqualify people fired for drug use from receiving unemployment benefits until they have demonstrated they’ve requalified for their job. Senate Bill 748 would require such individuals to pass a state-funded drug test before they can file for unemployment benefits again, a process that adds time and strain within the unemployment insurance system. The bill is now waiting for further discussion in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business.

If you are in the state of Oregon, understanding how to get a hold of unemployment benefits can be critical in times of need. For resources and contacts, you might find it useful to visit sites such as eddcaller.com. There you can get detailed information on how to contact a live person at the Employment Department, alleviating some of the stress and confusion that can accompany unemployment or job transitions.