AN ACT Relating to drug education; and adding new sections to Title 28A RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The citizens of the state of Washington recognize the serious impact of alcohol and drug abuse on a child's self concept and on the ability of children to learn. Therefore, the youth substance abuse awareness program is established: (1) To aid students in the development of skills that will aid them in making decisions concerning the use of drugs and alcohol; (2) to help the development and support of a drug-free educational environment; and (3) to aid school districts in the development and implementation of comprehensive drug and alcohol policies leading to the implementation of a drug and alcohol program that contains prevention, intervention, and aftercare components.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules implementing sections 1 through 5 of this act and may distribute funds, from moneys appropriated specifically for this purpose, to school districts for the planning, development, and implementation of educational and disciplinary policies and for prevention, intervention, and aftercare activities regarding the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

(2) School districts interested in implementing a program shall file an application for funds that includes the following:

(a) A letter of commitment from the board of directors to adopt a comprehensive policy on drugs and alcohol within six months of receipt of funding. The comprehensive policy shall address the issues of prevention, intervention, and aftercare programs and disciplinary policies and shall emphasize cooperation and coordination of services among public and private agencies, including law enforcement agencies. If the district has already adopted a comprehensive policy and plan, the district shall submit a copy of the comprehensive policy and plan adopted by its board of directors; and

(b) A copy of the district's assessment of the scope of the problem of substance abuse for both drugs and alcohol within the district including use and abuse by students and the community.

(3) A district planning to implement a program shall submit its comprehensive program plan and proposed expenditures for implementing the plan. The following program areas may be funded through moneys made available for this program, including but not limited to:

(a) Comprehensive program development;

(b) Prevention programs;

(d) Secondary identification and intervention programs;

(e) School drug and alcohol core team development and training;

(f) Development of referral and preassessment procedures;

(g) Aftercare;

(h) Drug and alcohol specialist;

(i) Staff, parent, student, and community training; and

(j) Coordination with law enforcement, community services, other school districts, and drug and alcohol treatment facilities.

(4) The district shall identify the members of the school district's school and community substance abuse advisory committee. The advisory committee shall work to coordinate school district programs and services with programs and services available within the community. The aim is to encourage cooperation and the development of a continuum of prevention, intervention, and care within the total community and to avoid the duplication of services. The advisory committee shall include representatives of at least the following: The school district instructional staff, students, parents, and state and local government law enforcement personnel, and also the county coordinator of alcohol and drug treatment or his or her representative or a representative of other treatment services.

(5) The district shall demonstrate the district's plan to provide local matching funds of an amount of at least twenty percent of the state funds for which the district is eligible. Matching funds may be money received from federal programs, other funds available to the district, or in-kind contributions, but in-kind contributions shall not be more than one-half of the minimum matching funds required.

(6) The district shall provide an outline of procedures for evaluation of the effectiveness of programs implemented by the school district.

(7) Joint applications and programs may be undertaken by school districts. Districts which elect to participate in a joint program may file a joint application and establish a joint school and community substance abuse advisory committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. School districts that have previously participated in plan development provided for in section 2 of this act may file an additional annual application for funds that includes: (1) Verification of the adoption of comprehensive district policies; (2) amendments to the district's comprehensive program plan, where necessary; (3) proposed areas of expenditures; (4) the district's plan to provide matching funds of an amount to equal at least twenty percent of the state funds for which the district is eligible; (5) a plan for program evaluation; and (6) an evaluation report of the effectiveness of the previously funded program one year after the program is implemented including all the information required in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an advisory committee on substance abuse composed of representatives of certificated and noncertificated staff, administrators, parents, school directors, the bureau of alcohol and substance abuse, the traffic safety commission, and county coordinators of alcohol and drug treatment. The committee shall advise the superintendent on matters of program development, coordination, and evaluation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The superintendent of public instruction shall identify and disseminate information about effective programs to all school districts and other interested parties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any part of sections 1 through 5 of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements which are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of sections 1 through 5 of this act is hereby declared to be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and such finding or determination shall not affect the operation of the remainder of sections 1 through 5 of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under sections 1 through 5 of this act shall meet federal requirements which are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 6 of this act are added to Title 28A RCW.