Relates to the preparation of educational materials relating to substance abuse among students and designating employees to provide information regarding substance abuse to students, parents and staff.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7470
SPONSOR: Davila TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to
the preparation of educational materials relating to substance abuse
among students; and to amend the education law, in relation to the
designation of employees to provide information regarding substance
abuse to students, parents and staff
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: The purpose of the bill is to ensure
that students, parents and staff are aware of the dangers of the
substance misuse and abuse and given access to resources for treatment
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one the bill would require the Office of Alcoholism and
Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), in consultation with the State Educa-
tion Department, to develop or use existing educational materials
regarding the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, prescription medica-
tion and other drugs that are prevalent among school aged youth. The
materials would be required to be age appropriate and would include
information or resources for parents to identify the warning signs and
how to address the risks of substance abuse.Section two of the bill
would require the superintendent of each school district, in consulta-
tion with the district superintendent of a board of cooperative educa-
tional services (BOCES), to designate an employee of the district to
provide information to any student, parent, or staff regarding available
substance abuse services. The designated person would be, where possi-
ble, a school social worker, school guidance counselor, or other health
care practitioner or counselor employed by the school or otherwise
available through a BOCES program. Any information provided by a
student, parent, or staff would be confidential except where the desig-
nated person had a legal duty to report such information. The commis-
sioner of the education department, in consultation with the commission-
er of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services would have
the power to make necessary regulations.Section three of the bill is the
effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
It is as crucial to prevent substance abuse as it is to treat it. In
2014, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) stated in its
National Drug Control Strategy that one of the most cost effective ways
of reducing drug abuse among the nation's youth is through school-based
substance abuse prevention education. This bill would ensure that
students, their parents, and staff in schools have access to information
on the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, prescription medications
and other drugs that are prevalent among school aged youth, as well as
how parents can recognize the warning signs of misuse, and that they are
given information on how to access substance abuse services.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A-10472 of 2015-2016.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day
