Report Title:

Substance Abuse Prevention; Public Schools; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $          in FY 2003-2004 and $        in FY 2004-2005 for smoke-free and drug abuse prevention educational projects in the public schools, including the hiring of 2 to 3 substance abuse counselors in each school.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1054

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS in public schools.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, according to Monitoring the Future, an annual survey of eighth-, tenth- and twelfth-graders conducted for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, recently found declines in drug, alcohol, and tobacco use for all age groups. Smoking, drinking, and drug use among eighth-graders has fallen sharply in recent years, with marijuana use at its lowest level since 1994 and half as many youngsters reporting they use cigarettes. The findings among eighth-graders are particularly heartening because children who say no to drugs, smoking, or alcohol early on carry that attitude into adulthood.

The legislature finds that it is significant to note that government health officials are crediting campaigns to educate children about the dangers of drugs with helping to foster the recent decline. The legislature believes that this hard-earned trend must continue to be supported. The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to fund smoke-free and drug abuse prevention educational projects in the public schools, especially focusing on the abuse of crystal methamphetamine, including the hiring of substance abuse counselors for each public school.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii tobacco settlement fund of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for smoke-free and drug abuse prevention educational projects in the public schools, especially focusing on the abuse of crystal methamphetamine, including the hiring of two or three substance abuse counselors in each public school, to be determined by the department of education, in consultation with the department of health, depending on the size of the school.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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