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HB1804PassesConstitutionalTestChangestoOklahomax19sStandardsforWorkplaceDrugAlcoholTestingActcontinuedUndertherevisedactdischargeforx1cmisconductx1dwhichwillprecludeaterminatedemployeefromreceivingunemploymentbenefitsonlyrequiresproofthatatestingpolicyexistedandtheemployeeeitherrefusedatestortestedpositive.AsaresultofthesignificantchangestotheActmanyofwhicharenotidentifiedinthisarticleemployerswhoconductorareconsideringconductingdrugandalcoholtestingshouldreviewandpossiblyrevisetheirpoliciestoensurecompliancewithOklahomalaw.CroweDunlevyattorneysprovidedsignificantcontributionstotherevisedActandarepositionedtoprovideguidanceandadviceinnavigatingthechangestothisimportantareaoflaw.delegatedOklahomaslegislativeauthoritytothefederalgovernmentestablishedastatebureauofimmigrationandviolatedtheOklahomaConstitutionsprovisionrequiringthatlawsdealwithasinglesubject.ThetrialcourtruledthattheActwasconstitutionalwiththeexceptionofoneprovisiondenyingin-statecollegetuitiontothosewhoreceiveaGEDinsteadofgraduatingfromhighschool.OnappealtheOklahomaSupremeCourtaffirmedthetrialcourtsrulingconcerningthein-statetuitionprovision.TheSupremeCourtalsofoundunconstitutionalaprovisioncreatingapresumptionthatanillegalalienisaflightriskforpurposesofdeterminingwhethertograntabailbond.TheSupremeCourtsidedwiththestateontheotherissueshoweverandruledthattheremainderoftheActdidnotimproperlydelegatelegislativeauthoritytothefederalgovernmentdidnotcreateastatebureauofimmigrationanddidnototherwiseviolatethestateconstitution.AsaresultprovisionsTheOklahomaSupremeCourtonJune14issuedadecisionholdingthatmostofTheOklahomaTaxpayerandCitizensProtectionActof2007alsoknownasHouseBill1804doesnotviolatetheOklahomaConstitution.InThomasv.HenrytheplaintiffsoughtadeclaratoryjudgmentarguingthattheActwasunconstitutionalbecauseitcontainedoneormorespeciallawsimproperlyoftheActthatmakeitafelonytotransportorconcealanillegalalienrequirepublicemployerstouseE-VerifytoverifytheemploymentstatusofcontractorsandrequirestateagenciestoverifythecitizenshipstatusofpeopleapplyingforbenefitsremainvalidunderOklahomalawatleastfornow.TheOklahomaSupremeCourtsdecisiondoesnotaffectapreliminaryinjunctionpreviouslyenteredbyafederalcourtinOklahomaCity.TheinjunctionpreventsthestatefromenforcingaprovisionoftheActthatmakesitadiscriminatoryacttodischargeanauthorizedworkerwhileretainingaworkertheemployerknowsorshouldhaveknownwasanillegalimmigrant.TheinjunctionalsopreventsthestatefromenforcingaprovisionoftheActrequiringbusinessescontractingwiththestatetoeitherverifytheemploymentstatusofindependentcontractorsorwithholdcertaintaxesfromthoseindependentcontractors.TheOklahomalegislaturehasupdatedOklahomax19sAnti-DiscriminationActwhichisnowthesolestatelawremedyforemployeesclaimingdiscrimination.WhatdoesthismeanGenerallygoodthingsforemployerssinceanemployeecannolongerbringcommonlawtortclaimsagainstanemployerbasedonemploymentdiscrimination.Byeliminatinganemployeex19sabilitytobringacommonlawemploymentdiscriminationtortthelegislaturehasalsolimitedthedamagesanemployermayhavetopay.EmployeescannolongerUpdateonOklahomax19sRevisedAnti-DiscriminationActByMichaelPacewiczByAmyE.Sellars