2017 -- S 0306

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LC000745

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CURRICULUM

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Miller, Nesselbush, Sheehan, and Gee

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Education

     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 the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

hospitals, the incorporation of substance abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health

education curriculum. For the purpose of this section, "substance abuse prevention" means the

implementation of evidence-based, age appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to the

use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; "suicide prevention" means the

implementation of evidence-based appropriate programs, practices, or curricula related to mental

health awareness and suicide prevention.

     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 - CURRICULUM

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      This act would require the department of elementary and secondary education to

consider incorporating substance abuse education and suicide prevention into the health education

curriculum.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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