JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industrial Relations Committee has passed a bill that would make it more difficult for workers to receive unemployment benefits if they have been suspended or fired for using drugs or alcohol on the job.

Currently a worker who is fired or suspended because of drug or alcohol use usually receives unemployment benefits, a portion of which is funded by employers.

"In 2001, Missouri workers who were forced from their jobs for illegal drug use received approximately $4 million in jobless benefits," said Sen. Loudon, chairman of the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industrial Relations Committee. "These people who posed real threats to their co-workers end up with the public supporting their drug habits."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, an estimated 6.5 percent of full-time and 8.6 percent of part-time workers are illicit drug users.

Under Senate Bill 2, a positive test result for controlled substances for blood alcohol content of eight-hundredths of 1 percent or more would be considered misconduct connected with work. Those suspended or terminated for a positive result would be ineligible for benefits.

Claimants could become eligible if they participated in a state-approved drug or alcohol treatment program.

According to the American Council for Drug Education, substance abuse covers a range of behavior that goes beyond addiction. Abuse may involve regular marijuana, heavy drinking, weekend binges, casual consumption of tranquilizers or misuse of other prescription drugs.

By occupation, the highest rates of current illicit drug use and heavy drinking were reported by food preparation workers, waiters, waitresses and bartenders, 19 percent; construction workers, 14 percent; service occupations, 13 percent; and transportation and material moving workers, 10 percent.

"When it comes to workplace substance abuse, small businesses have big disadvantages," Sen. Loudon said. "They are less likely to have programs in place to combat the problem, yet they are more likely to be the employer-of-choice for illicit drug users. Individuals who can't adhere to a drug-free work-place policy seek employment at firms that don't have one, and the cost of just one error caused by an impaired employee can devastate a small company."

As part of SB 2, all employers would be required to post a controlled substance and alcohol workplace policy warning that a positive test result would be deemed misconduct and could result in suspension or termination.

Having been passed out of committee, the bill will be sent to the Senate floor for debate.