Text: HF00425 Text: HF00427 Text: HF00400 - HF00499 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. FINDINGS PURPOSE. 1 2 1. The general assembly finds that effective prevention, 1 3 treatment, and law enforcement are the key components for 1 4 addressing drug and alcohol abuse in society. In recent 1 5 years, heightened attention to the immediate problems caused 1 6 by dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine and crack cocaine 1 7 has resulted in the commitment of more resources to treatment 1 8 and law enforcement. It is the purpose of this Act to curtail 1 9 the need for continued growth in treatment and law enforcement 1 10 efforts by implementing effective prevention activities among 1 11 children in schools. 1 12 2. The general assembly finds that effective treatment 1 13 programs, such as are envisioned in this Act, are the best 1 14 means to create a school and community partnership to mobilize 1 15 parents and the public to address the effects of dangerous 1 16 drugs such as methamphetamine and crack cocaine. It is 1 17 intended that this partnership will create a greater 1 18 understanding that changing attitudes of acceptance of student 1 19 use of alcohol and marijuana is an important intervention in 1 20 discouraging student progression to the use of other more 1 21 dangerous drugs. 1 22 Sec. 2. STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. There is 1 23 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the 1 24 department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1 25 1999, and ending June 30, 2000, the following amount, or so 1 26 much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes 1 27 designated: 1 28 For implementing student assistance programs in accordance 1 29 with this Act, including salaries, support, maintenance, and 1 30 miscellaneous purposes: 1 31 .................................................. $ 2,000,000 1 32 1. The department shall establish program requirements and 1 33 a funding mechanism for implementation of student assistance 1 34 programs in accordance with this section in the school 1 35 districts which are part of at least two area education 2 1 agencies of the state. If the department determines that 2 2 funding is sufficient, the school districts in additional area 2 3 education agencies shall be included. 2 4 2. The program requirements shall include at least one 2 5 substance abuse prevention specialist position in each school 2 6 district, with more than one depending upon the size of the 2 7 district. The specialist in this position would work with the 2 8 school counselor staff in implementing a student assistance 2 9 team in each school building. The specialist would also be 2 10 available for assessing substance abuse among students and 2 11 making appropriate referrals. 2 12 3. The purpose of a student assistance team is to provide 2 13 a means of identifying students' academic and social at-risk 2 14 behaviors as early as possible and to remediate the behaviors. 2 15 Remediation approaches may include but are not limited to 2 16 linking students with adult or student mentors, tutoring, 2 17 reading recovery programming, activities to build social 2 18 skills, and parent involvement activities. A student 2 19 assistance team may include school faculty, administrators, 2 20 other school staff, juvenile court officers, parents, and 2 21 other volunteers. Phase III of the educational excellence 2 22 program may be used to provide a stipend to involve teachers 2 23 and area education agency staff. 2 24 4. The area education agencies involved with implementing 2 25 this section shall conduct staff development sessions for 2 26 school district administrators and faculty. The substance 2 27 abuse and health promotion division of the Iowa department of 2 28 public health shall assist the area education agencies and 2 29 school districts in identifying and securing for staff 2 30 development presentations the best available trainers in 2 31 prevention activities. The staff development sessions may 2 32 include the provision of information on drugs, alcohol, 2 33 tobacco, attention deficit disorders, parental involvement 2 34 techniques, and other pertinent topics. It is intended that 2 35 widespread staff development on these topics will result in 3 1 school faculty infusing prevention within health curriculum 3 2 and other courses as appropriate. 3 3 5. The student assistance programs shall provide for 3 4 establishing alternate activities for students including 3 5 social activities, public service opportunities, mentoring and 3 6 tutoring of younger students, and recognition events. 3 7 6. The involved schools may use voluntary drug or alcohol 3 8 testing of children as allowed pursuant to section 808A.5, if 3 9 enacted in this Act. 3 10 7. The student assistance programs shall be coordinated 3 11 with the local community empowerment area board activities 3 12 involving children, and shall supplement existing prevention 3 13 efforts such as school counseling, academics, drug abuse 3 14 resistance education, and extracurricular activities. 3 15 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 808A.5 APPLICABILITY. 3 16 This chapter shall not apply to a search of a student for 3 17 purposes of conducting a drug or alcohol test on a sample 3 18 obtained from the student. 3 19 EXPLANATION 3 20 This bill relates to prevention of drug and alcohol abuse 3 21 by children by establishing support programs and authorizing 3 22 drug and alcohol testing by schools. The bill includes an 3 23 appropriation to the department of education. 3 24 The bill includes a statement of purpose and findings 3 25 regarding the importance of prevention in addressing drug and 3 26 alcohol abuse. 3 27 The appropriation provides requirements for the support 3 28 program to be established in the public school in at least two 3 29 area education agencies. The funding is to be used for the 3 30 costs of at least one prevention specialist for each school 3 31 district and other costs for staff development and 3 32 establishment of volunteer student assistance teams in school 3 33 buildings. Various members of the teams are suggested, 3 34 including school faculty and administrative personnel, 3 35 juvenile court officers, and others. Authorization is 4 1 provided to use phase III of the educational excellence 4 2 program to pay a stipend to school personnel. Legislative 4 3 intent is provided for coordination with community empowerment 4 4 and other prevention programming. 4 5 The bill exempts drug and alcohol testing of students from 4 6 the requirements of Code chapter 808A otherwise governing 4 7 student searches, such as locker searches. 4 8 LSB 2424HH 78 4 9 jp/jw/5
Text: HF00425 Text: HF00427 Text: HF00400 - HF00499 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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