{Frankfort, Kentucky}...The Senate has approved a bill that would close loopholes in the drug-testing law for coal miners in Kentucky, more than 1,500 of whom have tested positive for drug use since the state began screenings six years ago. The legislation would revoke the mine certifications for three years for first offenders, five years for second offenders and life for third offenders. Current law allows miners to be retested after 10 days. In some cases, those who test negative can then return to work. The legislation also would allow Kentucky to revoke certificates of miners who have tested positive in other states. It also would allow miners to seek treatment, after which their certificates could be reinstated.
