Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
HB 1956
Brief Description: Addressing fentanyl and other substance use prevention education.
Sponsors: Representatives Leavitt, Griffey, Ryu, Couture, Ramel, Slatter, Reed, Ormsby, Barnard, Callan, Timmons, Kloba, Cheney, Doglio, Paul, Berg, Lekanoff, Reeves, Riccelli, Wylie, Hackney, Pollet and Shavers; by request of Office of the Governor.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to update and publicly post substance use prevention education materials and resources for middle and high school students.
  • Directs the OSPI to revise the health and physical education K-12 learning standards to include knowledge and understanding related to fentanyl, other opioids, and other life-threatening drug use.
  • Requires fentanyl and other opioid prevention education to be provided to students in grades 7 and 9 annually.
Hearing Date: 1/18/24
Staff: Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:

State Health Learning Standards.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is responsible for developing and revising the state learning standards that identify the knowledge and skills all public school students need to know and be able to do based on four basic education learning goals established by the Legislature.  There are learning standards available in 14 content areas, including health.


The health education K-12 learning standards, which were last updated in 2016, are organized by six core ideas.  One of the core ideas, for which grade level outcomes are specified, is substance use and abuse prevention.


Student Assistance Prevention-Intervention Services Program.
The Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI) is a prevention effort of the Health Care Authority, managed by the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery at the Department of Social and Health Services.  The OSPI, in partnership with the educational service districts (ESDs) oversees the school-based prevention and intervention component of the CPWI.  


Through this Student Assistance Prevention-Intervention Services Program, student assistance professionals are placed in schools to address problems associated with substance use and other at-risk behaviors.  Each ESD has a substance abuse prevention and intervention service program coordinator.


Substance Use Information.
The Department of Health (DOH) is required to post on its website information about substance use trends, overdose symptoms and response, and the secure storage of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.


Each school district, charter school, state-tribal education compact school, and ESD must make the DOH substance use information accessible to students, families, and other interested persons through internet-based communications at least quarterly.
Summary of Bill:

By September 1, 2024, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), in collaboration with educational service districts (ESDs), the Health Care Authority (HCA), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), must review frequently used substance use prevention education materials and resources provided to students and their families in middle and high school.  These agencies must identify changes or additional materials and resources that include information about the potential lethality and other risks associated with the use of fentanyl and other opioids, and behavioral health resources.  These agencies must also consult with Indian tribes for input to ensure effectiveness for use in state-tribal education compact schools and for tribal children, youth, and their families.


By December 1, 2024, the OSPI must make updated substance use prevention education materials and resources available on the agency's public website for use by school districts, ESDs, and community-based organizations working with school-aged youth.


The OSPI, in consultation with ESDs, the HCA, the DOH, and the DCYF, must review substance use prevention education materials and resources at least every other year to ensure they contain the most current information and must be based on strategies that have evidence of effectiveness to the greatest extent possible.


School districts that serve students in middle and high school are strongly encouraged to work with their ESDs and substance abuse intervention specialists to provide fentanyl and other opioid prevention education to students and invite students' families and guardians where possible.


By December 1, 2024, the OSPI must complete revisions to the state health and physical education learning standards that include knowledge and understanding related to fentanyl, opioid, and other life-threatening drug use.


Education to prevent fentanyl and other opioid use included in state health learning standards must be provided once a year to all students in grades 7 and 9, with information on behavioral health resources as a component of required health programs.  Schools are encouraged to provide additional programming at their discretion.  


School districts and ESDs must consider using the substance use prevention education materials and resources developed by OSPI and the other agencies.


Fentanyl and other opioid prevention education delivered through health classes or other discretionary programs must be provided to as many grade 7 and 9 students as possible during the remainder of the 2024-25 school year, and annually to students in grades 7 and 9 thereafter.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.