2016 -- H 7758

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LC005185

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Serpa, Fellela, Shekarchi, and Marshall

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum

[See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education. – (a) All children in grades one

through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by the

state, shall receive in those schools instruction in health and physical education under rules and

regulations the department of elementary and secondary education may prescribe or approve

during periods which shall average at least twenty (20) minutes in each school day. No private

school or private instruction shall be approved by any school committee for the purposes of

chapter 19 of this title as substantially equivalent to that required by law of a child attending a

public school in the same city and/or town unless instruction in health and physical education

similar to that required in public schools shall be given. Commencing September 1, 2012, the

required health education curriculum shall be based on the health education standards of the

Rhode Island Health Education Framework: Health Literacy for All Students as promulgated by

the Rhode Island department of education and consistent with the mandated health instructional

outcomes therein. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required physical education curriculum

shall be based on the physical education standards of the Rhode Island Physical Education

Framework: Supporting Physically Active Lifestyles through Quality Physical Education as

promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and consistent with the instructional

outcomes therein.

     (b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall consider, in consultation

with national or state organizations focused on substance abuse prevention, treatment and

education, the incorporation of substance abuse education into health education curriculum. For

the purpose of this section, "substance abuse prevention education" means the presentation of

age-appropriate educational materials and curriculum in the area of alcoholism, drug abuse and

opioid overdose prevention by a licensed chemical dependency professional licensed pursuant to

chapter 69 of title 5.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

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     This act would require the incorporation of substance abuse education, provided by

licensed chemical dependency professionals, into the health education curriculum.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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