Amendment #423 to H3600

Substance Abuse Education

Ms. DiZoglio of Methuen moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION XXXX. The department of elementary and secondary education in coordination with the department of public health and the substance abuse advisory committee established in this section shall develop a model curriculum designed for the purpose of substance abuse and addiction prevention which shall align with the health curriculum framework and address the following topics: tobacco, alcohol, opiate and prescription drug diversion and abuse and other substance use and abuse prevention, conflict resolution, healthy coping behavior, student and community mental health resources and peer leadership. The curriculum shall take into account the best practices and policies in other states. The adolescent substance abuse and addiction prevention curriculum shall be incorporated into the health curriculum in grades 4 to 12 for all students in the public schools.

The department of elementary and secondary education shall convene a substance abuse advisory committee to investigate and study the development and implementation process for reducing adolescent substance abuse for public school students. The substance abuse advisory committee in formulating its recommendations, shall take into account the best practices and policies in other states.

The substance abuse advisory committee shall consist of 11 members: 2 of whom shall be national experts on adolescent substance abuse and addiction; 2 of whom shall be members of the student advisory council; 2 of whom shall be members of teens leading the way; 2 of whom shall be members of the governors youth council; 2 of whom shall be members of the legislature’s joint committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse; 2 of whom shall be members of the Joint Committee on Education; 1 of whom shall be a member of the Attorney General’s opiate abuse task force. The department shall create an evaluation assessing the curriculum and teaching materials before piloting this program.

SECTION 2. The state shall fully fund all costs associated with implementation.

SECTION 3. The substance abuse advisory committee shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and any recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall forward the same to the chairs of the joint committee on education and the chairs of the joint committee on education and the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse on or before January 1, 2018.

SECTION 4. The model curriculum established in SECTION XXXX shall be developed on or before June 30, 2017."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #423 to H3600

Substance Abuse Education