COMCOR 21.02.01 Drug Screening Procedure for Volunteer Applicants
Chapter 21. Fire and Rescue Services - Regulations
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.01 (2026)
21.02.01.01 PurposeLinkCopy Citation
To establish a procedure by which individuals who apply for volunteer membership to any of the fire and rescue corporations in Montgomery County are screened for the use of drugs, and are required to provide proof of a medically acceptable rating by the Occupational Medical Section which includes a negative result from a drug screening test prior to acceptance.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.02 (2026)
21.02.01.02 ApplicabilityLinkCopy Citation
This regulation applies to all independent fire and rescue corporations in Montgomery County and to all individuals who apply to serve as volunteer active members.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.03 (2026)
21.02.01.03 DefinitionLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Active Membership. Individuals who are eligible to participate in fire and rescue operations, including incident responses and operation of apparatus and equipment. This category includes the Rescuer and the Medical Attendant member.
(b)
Chain of Custody Procedure. A specimen security system that ensures the specimen cannot be tampered with without detection and insures that the specimen is not confused with another specimen. The procedure is consistently followed by both Occupational Medical Section and the examining laboratory for every specimen obtained. The procedure is attached as Appendix B.
(c)
Confirmed-Positive Test Results. The result of an immunoassay screen of a urine sample which indicates the presence of a drug above the laboratory's cutoff levels (as established by the test manufacturer and/or the National Institute on Drug Abuse), which has not been prescribed by a licensed health care provider or has not been used for the purpose for which it was prescribed. and is then confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/KS).
(d)
Drugs. Substances that may be abused, including amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, ethanol, methadone, methaqualone, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and propoxyphene.
(e)
Medical Examiner. A qualified physician designated by the Occupational Medical Section (OMS) who shall act as the Medical Review Officer.
(f)
Notification Form. A form which the applicant must complete and sign indicating his/her receipt of the notification as contained in Appendix A. The form explains that the results of the test will be released only to the applicant and the Medical Examiner, states the name and address of the laboratory performing the test, and informs the applicant of the option to have the same specimen independently tested at another State-certified laboratory at the applicant's expense if a positive test result occurs.
(g)
Pre-Acceptance Drug Screening. The process under which applicants submit to a drug urinalysis conducted by the Montgomery County Occupational Medical Section.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.04 (2026)
21.02.01.04 ResponsibilityLinkCopy Citation
(a)
All volunteer applicants for active membership must sign a notification form prior to submitting to the pre-acceptance drug screening test procedure.
(b)
All volunteer applicants for active membership must appear at the test site at the appointed time and submit to the test procedure established by the Occupational Medical Section.
(c)
The Occupational Medical Section must strictly adhere to its established Chain of Custody testing standard, as described fully in Appendix B.
(d)
Each fire and rescue corporation must ensure that all of its applicants for active membership are screened for substance abuse and that applicants are permitted to become volunteer members only after receipt of a “medically acceptable” rating from the Medical Examiner. Each corporation must notify its applicants that they must submit to pre-acceptance drug screening and require them to complete the notification form prior to scheduling the examination.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.05 (2026)
21.02.01.05 ProcedureLinkCopy Citation
(a)
All individuals who apply for active membership with a fire or rescue corporation in Montgomery County must submit to a drug urinalysis conducted by the Montgomery County Occupational Medical Section and provide proof of a “medically acceptable” rating from the Medical Examiner before acceptance.
(b)
Volunteer applicants for active membership are required to read and sign a notification form prior to arriving at the Occupational Medical Section for the pre-acceptance drug screening.
(c)
The County Occupational Medical Section will obtain a urine sample in accordance with Chain of Custody collection and handling procedures, to ensure that the urine specimen cannot be tampered with without being detected, and to attest to the manner in which the sample was collected. The Occupational Medical Section will submit the sample for analysis to an independent laboratory, which will maintain Chain of Custody handling of the specimen. The independent State-certified laboratory will follow rigorous quality control and personnel standards and participate in a proficiency testing program as outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services and National Institute on Drug Abuse. The laboratory will maintain frozen storage of positive samples for one year and will provide certification by a toxicologist of all-positive reports to verify the accuracy and use of the Chain of Custody procedure in determining the presence of the following drugs:
Amphetamines
Barbiturates, long acting and short acting
Benzodiazepines
Cannabinoids (Marijuana)
Cocaine
Ethanol (Alcohol)
Methadone
Methaqualone (Quaalude)
Opiates (Morphine, Codeine, Dilaudid)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Propoxyphene (Darvon)
(1)
If the immunoassay screen of a urine sample results in a positive test result indicating the presence of a listed drug above the cut-off level, the laboratory will automatically perform a confiridation test by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) on the same specimen. If a substance is present at a level below the predetermined cut-off, the test report will be reported as negative. The cut-off levels are those established for the above substances by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (KIDA) and/or by the test manufacturer.
(2)
If the GC/MS analysis of the same urine sample provides a positive test result, the results of the first and second tests must be reported to the Medical Examiner and the applicant. The laboratory must report the test results directly to the Occupational Medical Section so that Chain of Custody procedures can be verified and so that the Medical Examiner can determine whether a false positive test result occurred. A false positive test result is a positive test result created by cross reaction with over-the-counter medications, foods, or prescribed medications. (See Appendix C. Follow-up Procedure of Positive Test Results.). An applicant who has a confirmed positive test for ethanol will be reported medically acceptable if the Medical Examiner, after reviewing the applicant's physical examination and blood test results, determines that there are no clinical signs of alcohol abuse present. An applicant with a confirmed positive test for a drug other than ethanol will not be given a medically acceptable rating.
(3)
Applicants must be informed of the name and address of the laboratory performing the pre-acceptance drug screening and of their right to have independent testing of the same specimen at their expense at another State-certified laboratory if the specimen produces a positive test result. A partial listing of State-certified laboratories is provided in Appendix E.
(d)
Drug screening results will be used solely to complete the individual's application for volunteer service. The results of this test must not be disclosed to another person or agency for any other purpose, including any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding, without the written consent of the applicant.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.06 (2026)
21.02.01.06 SeverabilityLinkCopy Citation
If a court of final appeal holds that any part of this regulation is invalid, that ruling does not affect the validity of other parts of the regulation.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.07 (2026)
21.02.01.07 Effective DateLinkCopy Citation
This regulation is effective 30 days after Council adoption or 90 days after Council receipt if the Council takes no action within 60 days of its receipt.
Montgomery County, Md., COMCOR § 21.02.01.08 (2026)
21.02.01.08 AttachmentsLinkCopy Citation
Appendix A - Applicant Drug Testing Notification
Appendix B - Chain of Custody Procedure
Appendix C - Follow-up Procedure of Positive Test Results
Appendix D - Laboratories Certified by the State of Maryland to Perform Job-Related Drug Screening