2016 -- S 2693

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LC004748

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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 -- THE RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOLS ACT [SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Satchell, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-95-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-95 entitled "The

Recovery High Schools Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education

Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-95-4. Transfer of aid. -- (a) Any school district in Rhode Island that may have a

student or students who are currently or were last enrolled in said district and who are considered

by the sending district to be both clinically and academically appropriate for referral diagnosed

with substance use disorder or dependency, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

Of Mental Disorders IV-TR to a Rhode Island recovery high school may be referred to a Rhode

Island recovery high school by a clinician licensed pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42 for voluntary

enrollment in such school. If said student is admitted to said school, the sending school district

shall ensure that payment pursuant to subsection (b) herein for students who attend the recovery

high school is paid, and further, that upon completion of all other graduation requirements, said

student or students shall receive a diploma.

      (b) A sending school district shall transfer the per pupil allotment it receives core

instructional amount pursuant to chapter 16-7.2 ("The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief

Act") to a recovery high school for any student attending the recovery high school and meeting

the following criteria: (1) The student is currently enrolled in the district or currently resides in

the municipality in which the district is located; and (2) The student is considered by a clinician

licensed pursuant to 42-35, to be clinically appropriate, using the criteria for substance use

disorders as defined in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV-TR;. and (3)

The If a student meets all matriculation criteria as outlined by the sending district and the

department of elementary and secondary education, with determination of academic eligibility

based on existing documentation provided by the district. The the district and the recovery high

school shall arrange to confer a diploma when a student completes state and district-mandated

graduation requirements. The local share of education funding shall be paid to the recovery high

school in the same manner as the local share of education funding is paid to charter public

schools, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School, and the Metropolitan

Regional Career and Technical Center, as outlined in § 16-7.2-5.

      (c) A recovery high school shall submit to the board of regents council on elementary

and secondary education academic data considered necessary by the board to provide information

regarding each student's academic performance, subject to applicable health confidentiality laws

and regulations.

      (d) The board of regents council on elementary and secondary education, in consultation

with the department of behavioral health, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall

promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement and carry out the intent of this

chapter.

     (e) Each recovery high school shall receive no less than five hundred thousand dollars

($500,000) per year from the state for administration and programmatic costs.

     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 -- THE RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOLS ACT [SEE TITLE 16

CHAPTER 97 -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

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     This act would allow students who are diagnosed with substance use disorder or

dependency to be referred to a Rhode Island recovery high school by a licensed clinician and

would direct no less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) per year from the state for

administration and programmatic costs at each recovery high school.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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