Drug and alcohol testing; bring forward statutes addressing government employees.

HB 1638 reorganizes existing Mississippi statutes related to drug and alcohol testing for employees, consolidating sections about voluntary testing for public and private employers (including requirements for written policies and employee notifications) and mandatory testing for Mississippi Department of Corrections staff. It directly affects all Mississippi employers - both public and private - who choose to implement drug/alcohol testing programs, as well as correctional employees under mandatory testing. The bill’s key mechanism is streamlining the legal framework by bringing forward specific code sections (e.g., 71-7-1 through 71-7-15, 47-5-196) to clarify employer obligations, confidentiality rules, and testing procedures. As a procedural bill, it does not create new requirements but aims to modernize and clarify existing law for potential future amendments.