City of Arkansas City v. Kansas Department of Human Resources

898 P.2d 665, 21 Kan. App. 2d 296, 10 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1600, 1995 Kan. App. LEXIS 112
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedJuly 14, 1995
DocketNo. 72,516
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 898 P.2d 665 (City of Arkansas City v. Kansas Department of Human Resources) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Arkansas City v. Kansas Department of Human Resources, 898 P.2d 665, 21 Kan. App. 2d 296, 10 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1600, 1995 Kan. App. LEXIS 112 (kanctapp 1995).

Opinion

Lewis, J.:

Kevin Vanderpool was employed by the City of Arkansas City (City) as a sanitation truck driver. He was fired from that job for refusing to complete a urine test for drugs. Vanderpool filed an application for unemployment benefits with the Kansas Department of Human Resources (KDHR). The City contested his application. An examiner for KDHR found that Vanderpool was not terminated for misconduct and granted him the requested benefits. This decision was appealed to a KDHR referee. The referee basically affirmed the decision of the examiner. The decision of the examiner was appealed to the district court. The district court held that Vanderpool had refused to submit to a chemical test required by law, which constituted misconduct under K.S.A. 44-706(b)(2). The trial court denied his application for benefits. Vanderpool appeals.

Vanderpool had previously tested positive for the use of illegal drugs. As a result, the City suspended him from his job for 30 days and placed him on 6 months’ probation. In order to continue his employment with the City, Vanderpool agreed to submit to random drug testing during the six-month probationary period.

On a certain day during that probationary period, Vanderpool was asked by his supervisor to submit to a drug test. He agreed to do so. Vanderpool and the supervisor then went to the hospital to have the test conducted. According to the record, Vanderpool drank water and iced tea for 2 hours and 15 minutes but was unable to provide a urine sample. Apparently, after a period of time, a certain amount of tension began to develop, and the supervisor advised Vanderpool that they would stay until the next morning if that was necessary to obtain the urine sample.

Vanderpool asked to return to the shop. The supervisor told him that if he did, it would be considered a refusal to take the test and he would be fired. Vanderpool left, and he was fired.

[298]*298The question on appeal is whether Vanderpool’s refusal to provide a urine sample was misconduct for which he may be denied unemployment benefits. It is important to note that we are not dealing here with whether he should be reinstated in his job. Vanderpool has been fired from his job for violation of the terms of his probation. The only issue before this court is whether he is entitled to unemployment benefits.

In the context in which we approach the question, if Vanderpool was fired for misconduct, he is not entitled to benefits; if he was not fired for misconduct, he is entitled to benefits. Misconduct, in this arena, is a term of art and is specifically defined by the following relevant portions of K.S.A. 44-706:

“An individual shall be disqualified for benefits:
(b) If the individual has been discharged for misconduct connected with the individual’s work ....
(1) For the purposes of this subsection (b), ‘misconduct’ is defined as a violation of a duty or obligation reasonably owed the employer as a condition of employment. In order to sustain a finding that such a duty or obligation has been violated, the facts must show: (A) Willful and intentional action which is substantially adverse to the employer’s interests, or (B) carelessness or negligence of such degree or recurrence as to show wrongful intent or evil design ....
(2) For the purposes of this subsection (b), the use of or impairment caused by an alcoholic beverage, a cereal malt beverage or a nonprescribed controlled substance by an individual while working shall be conclusive evidence of misconduct and the possession of an alcoholic beverage, a cereal malt beverage or a nonprescribed controlled substance by an individual while working shall be prima facie evidence of conduct which was substantially adverse to the employer’s interests. For purposes of this subsection (b), the disquahfication of an individual from employment, which disquahfication is required by law because the individual refused to submit to or failed a chemical test which was required by law, shall be conclusive evidence of misconduct .... As used in this subsection (b)(2), ‘required by law’ means required by a federal or state law, a federal or state rule or regulation having the force and effect of law, a county resolution or municipal ordinance, or a policy relating to public safety adopted in open meeting by the governing body of any special district or other local governmental entity. An individual’s refusal to submit to a chemical test shall not be admissible evidence to prove misconduct unless the test was required by law and the test constituted a required condition of employment for the individual’s job, or, there was probable cause to believe that the individual used, possessed or was impaired by an alcoholic [299]*299beverage, a cereal malt beverage or a controlled substance while working.” (Emphasis added.)

Indeed, the issue is even more specific than earlier described. In view of the emphasized portion of the statute quoted above, we must decide whether the chemical test Vanderpool refused was one “required by law.” The statute clearly provides that refusal to take a chemical test may not be admitted as evidence of misconduct “unless the test was required by law and the test constituted a required condition of employment for the individual’s job.” (Emphasis added.) No one claims that the “probable cause” section of the statute applies. There is no question that the chemical test was a required condition of employment for Vanderpool to keep his job. However, the statute provides that not only must it be a required condition of employment, it must also be a test required by law. The real issue is whether it was required by law.

The trial court found that the test was required by law. The issue on appeal is whether that conclusion was correct. “Where the trial court has made findings of fact and conclusions of law, the appellate court must determine whether the findings are supported by substantial competent evidence and whether die findings are sufficient to support the trial court’s conclusions of law.” Vakas v. Kansas Bd. of Healing Arts, 248 Kan. 589, 604, 808 P.2d 1355 (1991).

“In determining whether an employee who has been discharged for violating an employer’s rule is entitied to unemployment compensation, the proper focus is whether the employee’s action constitutes misconduct under K.S.A. 1988 Supp. 44-706(b), not whether the employer’s rule has been violated.” City of Wichita v. Employment Security Bd., 13 Kan. App. 2d 729, Syl. ¶ 1, 779 P.2d 41 (1989).

The City contends that the drug test was required by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986,49 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq. (1988), and/or by city personnel policy. The ultimate determination of the question depends upon the evidence developed in the record on appeal.

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898 P.2d 665, 21 Kan. App. 2d 296, 10 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1600, 1995 Kan. App. LEXIS 112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-arkansas-city-v-kansas-department-of-human-resources-kanctapp-1995.