Data / Federal rules / 2024-23427

Electronic Signatures, Forms and Storage for Drug and Alcohol Testing Records

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 15, 2024. Comments closed on December 16, 2024.

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What the agency says

The Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) proposes to amend its regulations for conducting workplace drug and alcohol testing for the federally regulated transportation industry to allow, but not require, electronic signatures on documents required to be created and utilized under the regulations, the use of electronic versions of forms, and the electronic storage of forms and data. The regulatory changes would apply to DOT-regulated employers and their contractors ("service agents") who administer their DOT-regulated drug and alcohol testing programs. Currently, employers and their service agents must use, sign and store paper documents exclusively, unless the employer is utilizing a laboratory's electronic Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (electronic CCF) system that has been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). DOT is required by statute to amend its regulations to authorize, to the extent practicable, the use of electronic signatures or digital signatures executed to electronic forms instead of traditional handwritten signatures executed on paper forms. This rulemaking also responds to an April 2, 2020, petition for rulemaking from DISA Global Solutions, Inc. (DISA), requesting that DOT regulations be amended to allow the use of an electronic version of the alcohol testing form (ATF) for DOT-authorized alcohol testing. The proposed regulatory amendments are expected to provide additional flexibility and reduced costs for the industry while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality requirements of the drug and alcohol testing regulations. In addition, DOT proposes to amend the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulation for conformity and to make other miscellaneous technical changes and corrections.

Key facts

Document number

2024-23427

Type

Proposed rule

Action

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

Agency

Transportation Department; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Published

October 15, 2024

Comments due

December 16, 2024

Dates

Comments on this NPRM must be received on or before December 16, 2024.

Docket

Docket DOT-OST-2022-0027

Regulation ID (RIN)

2105-AF01

Code of Federal Regulations

49 CFR 40; 49 CFR 199

Topics

Administrative practice and procedure; Alcohol abuse; Drug abuse; Drug testing; Laboratories; Pipeline safety; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Safety; Transportation

Pages

12

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

Other documents from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Everything from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on alcohol abuse · Rules on drug abuse · Published in October 2024

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