# Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-101: Legislative intent > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-101 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-101 - **Heading:** Legislative intent - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 50 / Chapter 9 / Section 50-9-101 ## Text (a) It is the intent of the general assembly to promote drug-free workplaces in order that employers in this state be afforded the opportunity to maximize their levels of productivity, enhance their competitive positions in the marketplace and reach their desired levels of success without experiencing the costs, delays and tragedies associated with work-related accidents resulting from drug or alcohol abuse by employees. It is also the intent of the general assembly that employers obtaining certification as a drug-free workplace under rules promulgated by the bureau should be able to renew that certification on an annual basis without requiring repeated annual training of existing employees; provided, however, the employer certifies on a form prescribed by the bureau that all existing employees have undergone training at least once and have acknowledged annually in writing the existence of the employer's drug-free workplace policy. It is further the intent of the general assembly that drug and alcohol abuse be discouraged and that employees who choose to engage in drug or alcohol abuse face the risk of unemployment and the forfeiture of workers' compensation benefits. (b) If an employer implements a drug-free workplace program in accordance with this chapter, which includes notice, education and procedural requirements for testing for drugs and alcohol pursuant to rules developed by the division, the covered employer may require the employee to submit to a test for the presence of drugs or alcohol and, if a drug or alcohol is found to be present in the employee's system at a level prescribed by statute or by rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, the employee may be terminated and forfeits eligibility for workers' compensation medical and indemnity benefits. However, a drug-free workplace program must require the covered employer to notify all employees that it is a condition of employment for an employee to refrain from reporting to work or working with the presence of drugs or alcohol in the employee's body and, if an injured employee refuses to submit to a test for drugs or alcohol, the employee forfeits eligibility for workers' compensation medical and indemnity benefits. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1056, s 3, eff. 7/1/2016. Acts 1996, ch. 944, §50; 1997 , ch. 533, § 17. (a) It is the intent of the general assembly to promote drug-free workplaces in order that employers in this state be afforded the opportunity to maximize their levels of productivity, enhance their competitive positions in the marketplace and reach their desired levels of success without experiencing the costs, delays and tragedies associated with work-related accidents resulting from drug or alcohol abuse by employees. It is also the intent of the general assembly that employers obtaining certification as a drug-free workplace under rules promulgated by the bureau should be able to renew that certification on an annual basis without requiring repeated annual training of existing employees; provided, however, the employer certifies on a form prescribed by the bureau that all existing employees have undergone training at least once and have acknowledged annually in writing the existence of the employer's drug-free workplace policy. It is further the intent of the general assembly that drug and alcohol abuse be discouraged and that employees who choose to engage in drug or alcohol abuse face the risk of unemployment and the forfeiture of workers' compensation benefits. existing employees have undergone training at least once and have acknowledged annually in writing the existence of the employer's drug-free workplace policy. It is further the intent of the general assembly that drug and alcohol abuse be discouraged and that employees who choose to engage in drug or alcohol abuse face the risk of unemployment and the forfeiture of workers' compensation benefits. (b) If an employer implements a drug-free workplace program in accordance with this chapter, which includes notice, education and procedural requirements for testing for drugs and alcohol pursuant to rules developed by the division, the covered employer may require the employee to submit to a test for the presence of drugs or alcohol and, if a drug or alcohol is found to be present in the employee's system at a level prescribed by statute or by rule adopted pursuant to this chapter, the employee may be terminated and forfeits eligibility for workers' compensation medical and indemnity benefits. However, a drug-free workplace program must require the covered employer to notify all employees that it is a condition of employment for an employee to refrain from reporting to work or working with the presence of drugs or alcohol in the employee's body and, if an injured employee refuses to submit to a test for drugs or alcohol, the employee forfeits eligibility for workers' compensation medical and indemnity benefits. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1056, s 3, eff. 7/1/2016. Acts 1996, ch. 944, §50; 1997 , ch. 533, § 17. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-101 Legislative intent](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-102 Applicability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-103 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-104 Testing for drugs or alcohol authorized - Conditions for testing - Effect of failure to comply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-105 Written policy statement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-106 Required drug or alcohol tests](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-107 Testing subject to department of transportation procedures - Verification - Chain of custody procedures - Costs - Discrimination on grounds of voluntary treatment prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-108 Drug or alcohol use not a disability - Drug or alcohol use "cause" for firing or failure to hire - Miscellaneous provisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-109 Confidentiality of records - Parental notification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-110 Prerequisites for processing test specimens - Licensure of testing laboratory](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-110.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-111 Rules and regulations - Guidelines for state testing program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-111.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-112 Temporary employment agencies exempt from drug-free workplace requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-112.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-113 State and local government construction contracts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-113.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-9-114 Information to be included within bid or procurement specifications for construction services - Contesting a contract](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-114.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T50_C9_S50-9-101. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.