Senators advance bill allowing inmates confirmatory lab testing after field test drug positives

The Legislature advanced LB519 on the consent calendar after committee work and a unanimous committee vote. Sponsor Senator Juarez said the bill responds to an Office of Inspector General (OIG) report finding field drug tests used by the Department of Corrections were producing false positives with substantive disciplinary consequences.

LB519 authorizes confirmatory testing of suspected contraband drugs in correctional settings. The committee amendment (AM761) requires that an inmate may be required to pay for confirmatory testing if the confirmatory result remains positive; the amendment was described as adding accountability and passed the Judiciary Committee unanimously. Committee ranking members noted that independent testing can prevent lengthy administrative appeals and court proceedings when a false field test triggers disciplinary sanctions such as loss of good time or custody reclassification.

Senators voted to adopt AM761 and advance LB519 to Enrollment & Review‑Initial as a consent calendar item. The clerk recorded the advancement; the bill will move through standard enrollment and review steps and, if enacted, will require DOC to accept and coordinate independent laboratory testing per the bill’s language.