Preemployment Screening and Testing: Louisiana

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Elizabeth A. Roussel, Adams and Reese LLP

Summary

• Louisiana employers generally cannot require employees or applicants for employment to bear the cost of fingerprinting, medical examinations, drug testing or furnishing of any records required by the employer as a condition of employment. See Screening and Testing Costs.
• The state legislature has adopted comprehensive drug-testing procedures which require, among other things, employers that drug test Louisiana residents to do so in accordance with the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. See Drug Testing Procedures.
• Louisiana law mandates drug testing of public employees in certain circumstances. See Public Employee Drug Testing.
• Louisiana limits the extent to which individuals with criminal convictions can be denied licenses, permits and certifications needed to obtain employment. See Employment of Individuals With Criminal Records.
• A new law offers a safeguard to Louisiana employers from negligent hiring claims, though this protection is not absolute. See Negligent Hiring.
• While Louisiana does not bar employers from using credit information in employment decisions, New Orleans does place limits on the practice. See Credit Checks.
• The state is among those to have a mandatory E-Verify requirement for certain employers. See E-Verify.
• New Orleans has local requirements pertaining to preemployment screening and testing. See Local Requirements.