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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to substance abuse awareness programs in public schools |
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and public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002(r), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(r) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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health curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the State Board of |
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Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills that address |
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the science, risk factors, causes, dangers, consequences, signs, |
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symptoms, and treatment of substance abuse, including the use of |
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illegal drugs, abuse of prescription drugs, abuse of alcohol such |
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as by binge drinking or other excessive drinking resulting in |
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alcohol poisoning, inhaling solvents, and other forms of substance |
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abuse. The agency shall compile a list of evidence-based substance |
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abuse awareness programs from which a school district shall choose |
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a program to use in the district's middle school, junior high |
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school, and high school health curriculum. An evidence-based |
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substance abuse awareness program under this subsection must |
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include instruction regarding the dangers posed by the use of the |
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drug fentanyl. In this subsection, "evidence-based substance abuse |
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awareness program" means a program, practice, or strategy that has |
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been proven to effectively prevent substance abuse among students, |
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as determined by evaluations that are evidence-based. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9365 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9365. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS PROGRAM. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Evidence-based substance abuse awareness |
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program" means a program, practice, or strategy that has been |
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proven to effectively prevent substance abuse among students, as |
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determined by evaluations that are evidence-based. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall include an |
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evidence-based substance abuse awareness program in the |
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orientation programming provided to incoming students. An |
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evidence-based substance abuse awareness program under this |
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section must include instruction regarding the dangers posed by the |
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use of the drug fentanyl. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Section 28.002(r), Education Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school |
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year. |
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(b) Section 51.9365, Education Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |