US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

49 U.S.C. § 5331

Alcohol and controlled substances testing

(a)

Definitions .—

In this section—
(1)
21 U.S.C. 802 “controlled substance” means any substance under section 102 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 () whose use the Secretary decides has a risk to transportation safety.
(2)
“person” includes any entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, a State, territory, or possession of the United States, or a foreign country.
(3)
“public transportation” means any form of public transportation, except a form the Secretary decides is covered adequately, for employee alcohol and controlled substances testing purposes, under section 20140 or 31306 of this title or section 2303a, 7101(i), or 7302(e) of title 46. The Secretary may also decide that a form of public transportation is covered adequately, for employee alcohol and controlled substances testing purposes, under the alcohol and controlled substance statutes or regulations of an agency within the Department of Transportation or the Coast Guard.
(b)

Testing Program for Public Transportation Employees .—

(1)
(A)
In the interest of public transportation safety, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations that establish a program requiring public transportation operations that receive financial assistance under section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of this title to conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of public transportation employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of a controlled substance in violation of law or a United States Government regulation, and to conduct reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of such employees for the use of alcohol in violation of law or a United States Government regulation. The regulations shall permit such operations to conduct preemployment testing of such employees for the use of alcohol.
(B)
When the Secretary considers it appropriate in the interest of safety, the Secretary may prescribe regulations for conducting periodic recurring testing of public transportation employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation.
(2)
In prescribing regulations under this subsection, the Secretary—
(A)
shall require that post-accident testing of such a public transportation employee be conducted when loss of human life occurs in an accident involving public transportation; and
(B)
may require that post-accident testing of such a public transportation employee be conducted when bodily injury or significant property damage occurs in any other serious accident involving public transportation.
(c)

Disqualifications for Use .—

(1)
When the Secretary considers it appropriate, the Secretary shall require disqualification for an established period of time or dismissal of any employee referred to in subsection (b)(1) of this section who is found—
(A)
to have used or been impaired by alcohol when on duty; or
(B)
to have used a controlled substance, whether or not on duty, except as allowed for medical purposes by law or regulation.
(2)
This section does not supersede any penalty applicable to a public transportation employee under another law.
(d)

Testing and Laboratory Requirements .—

In carrying out subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall develop requirements that shall—
(1)
promote, to the maximum extent practicable, individual privacy in the collection of specimens;
(2)
for laboratories and testing procedures for controlled substances, incorporate the Department of Health and Human Services scientific and technical guidelines dated , and any amendments to those guidelines, including mandatory guidelines establishing—
(A)
comprehensive standards for every aspect of laboratory controlled substances testing and laboratory procedures to be applied in carrying out this section, including standards requiring the use of the best available technology to ensure the complete reliability and accuracy of controlled substances tests and strict procedures governing the chain of custody of specimens collected for controlled substances testing;
(B)
the minimum list of controlled substances for which individuals may be tested; and
(C)
appropriate standards and procedures for periodic review of laboratories and criteria for certification and revocation of certification of laboratories to perform controlled substances testing in carrying out this section;
(3)
require that a laboratory involved in controlled substances testing under this section have the capability and facility, at the laboratory, of performing screening and confirmation tests;
(4)
provide that all tests indicating the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation be confirmed by a scientifically recognized method of testing capable of providing quantitative information about alcohol or a controlled substance;
(5)
provide that each specimen be subdivided, secured, and labeled in the presence of the tested individual and that a part of the specimen be retained in a secure manner to prevent the possibility of tampering, so that if the individual’s confirmation test results are positive the individual has an opportunity to have the retained part tested by a 2d confirmation test done independently at another certified laboratory if the individual requests the 2d confirmation test not later than 3 days after being advised of the results of the first confirmation test;
(6)
ensure appropriate safeguards for testing to detect and quantify alcohol in breath and body fluid samples, including urine and blood, through the development of regulations that may be necessary and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(7)
provide for the confidentiality of test results and medical information (except information about alcohol or a controlled substance) of employees, except that this clause does not prevent the use of test results for the orderly imposition of appropriate sanctions under this section; and
(8)
ensure that employees are selected for tests by nondiscriminatory and impartial methods, so that no employee is harassed by being treated differently from other employees in similar circumstances.
(e)

Rehabilitation .—

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations establishing requirements for rehabilitation programs that provide for the identification and opportunity for treatment of any public transportation employee referred to in subsection (b)(1) of this section who is found to have used alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a Government regulation. The Secretary shall decide on the circumstances under which employees shall be required to participate in a program. This subsection does not prevent a public transportation operation from establishing a program under this section in cooperation with another public transportation operation.
(f)

Relationship to Other Laws, Regulations, Standards, and Orders .—

(1)
A State or local government may not prescribe, issue, or continue in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order that is inconsistent with regulations prescribed under this section. However, a regulation prescribed under this section does not preempt a State criminal law that imposes sanctions for reckless conduct leading to loss of life, injury, or damage to property.
(2)
In prescribing regulations under this section, the Secretary—
(A)
shall establish only requirements that are consistent with international obligations of the United States; and
(B)
shall consider applicable laws and regulations of foreign countries.
(g)

Conditions on Federal Assistance.—

(1)

Ineligibility for assistance .—

A person that receives funds under this chapter is not eligible for financial assistance under section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of this title if the person is required, under regulations the Secretary prescribes under this section, to establish a program of alcohol and controlled substances testing and does not establish the program in accordance with this section.
(2)

Additional remedies .—

If the Secretary determines that a person that receives funds under this chapter is not in compliance with regulations prescribed under this section, the Secretary may bar the person from receiving Federal transit assistance in an amount the Secretary considers appropriate.

Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(d)108 Stat. 832Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(13)108 Stat. 4379Pub. L. 104–59, title III, § 342(a)109 Stat. 608Pub. L. 109–59, title III119 Stat. 1545Pub. L. 112–141, div. B126 Stat. 717(, , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 3002(b)(3), (4), 3030, , , 1625; , §§ 20022, 20030(f), , , 731.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

5331(a)

49 App.:1618a(a).

Oct. 28, 1991, Pub. L. 102–143, § 6, 105 Stat. 962.

5331(b)

49 App.:1618a(b).

5331(c)

49 App.:1618a(f).

5331(d)

49 App.:1618a(d).

5331(e)

49 App.:1618a(c).

5331(f)

49 App.:1618a(e).

5331(g)

49 App.:1618a(g).

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the text of 49 App.:1618a(a)(3) is omitted as surplus because the complete name of the Secretary of Transportation is used the first time the term appears in a section. In clause (3), the words “controlled substances” are substituted for “drug” for consistency in this section.

In subsection (b)(1)(B), the word “also” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(2)(B), the words “may require” are substituted for “as determined by the Secretary” for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words.

In subsection (d), the word “samples” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (d)(2), before subclause (A), the word “subsequent” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (d)(3), the words “of any individual” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (d)(4), the words “by any individual” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (d)(5), the word “tested” is substituted for “assayed” for consistency. The words “2d confirmation test” are substituted for “independent test” for clarity and consistency.

In subsection (d)(6), the word “Secretary” is substituted for “Department” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

In subsection (f)(1), the word “prescribe” is substituted for “adopt” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code. The word “rule” is omitted as being synonymous with “regulation”. The word “ordinance” is omitted as being included in “law” and “regulation”. The words “whether the provisions apply specifically to mass transportation employees, or to the general public” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (f)(3), the word “prevent” is substituted for “restrict the discretion of” to eliminate unnecessary words.

In subsection (g) the words “in accordance with such regulations” are omitted as surplus.

Pub. L. 103–429

This amends 49:5331(a)(3) to correct an erroneous cross-reference.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 112–141, § 20030(f)2012—, substituted “Secretary” for “Secretary of Transportation” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 112–141, § 20022Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g) and struck out former subsec. (g). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A person is not eligible for financial assistance under section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of this title if the person is required, under regulations the Secretary of Transportation prescribes under this section, to establish a program of alcohol and controlled substances testing and does not establish the program.”

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3030(a)2005—Subsec. (a)(3). , substituted “section 20140 or 31306 of this title or section 2303a, 7101(i), or 7302(e) of title 46” for “section 20140 or 31306 of this title” and inserted at end “The Secretary may also decide that a form of public transportation is covered adequately, for employee alcohol and controlled substances testing purposes, under the alcohol and controlled substance statutes or regulations of an agency within the Department of Transportation or the Coast Guard.”.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3002(b)(4), substituted “public transportation” for “mass transportation” in two places.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3002(b)(3)Subsec. (b). , substituted “Public” for “Mass” in heading.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3030(b)section 103(e)(4) of title 23Subsec. (b)(1)(A). , struck out “or ” after “5311 of this title”.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3002(b)(4), substituted “public transportation” for “mass transportation” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3002(b)(4)Subsecs. (b)(1)(B), (2), (c)(2), (e). , substituted “public transportation” for “mass transportation” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3030(c)Subsec. (f)(3). , struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “This section does not prevent the Secretary of Transportation from continuing in effect, amending, or further supplementing a regulation prescribed before , governing the use of alcohol or a controlled substance by mass transportation employees.”

Pub. L. 109–59, § 3030(b)section 103(e)(4) of title 23Subsec. (g). , struck out “or ” after “5311 of this title”.

Pub. L. 104–59section 103(e)(4) of title 231995—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “In the interest of mass transportation safety, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations not later than , that establish a program requiring mass transportation operations that receive financial assistance under section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of this title or to conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of mass transportation employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions (as decided by the Secretary) for the use of alcohol or a controlled substance in violation of law or a United States Government regulation.”

Pub. L. 103–4291994—Subsec. (a)(3). substituted “section 20140 or 31306” for “subchapter III of chapter 201 or section 31306”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–141section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141section 101 of Title 23Amendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under , Highways.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–429section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429section 321 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .