2019 -- H 5253

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LC000766

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 -- THE

RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

     

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, McEntee, Craven, and Amore

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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as follows:

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     16-22-4. Instruction in health and physical education.

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     (a) All children in grades one through twelve (12) attending public schools, or any other

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schools managed and controlled by the state, shall receive in those schools instruction in health

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and physical education under rules and regulations the department of elementary and secondary

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education may prescribe or approve during periods that shall average at least twenty (20) minutes

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in each school day. No private school or private instruction shall be approved by any school

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committee for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title as substantially equivalent to that required

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by law of a child attending a public school in the same city or town unless instruction in health

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and physical education similar to that required in public schools shall be given. Commencing

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September 1, 2012, the required health education curriculum shall be based on the health

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education standards of the Rhode Island health education framework: health literacy for all

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students as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and consistent with the

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mandated health instructional outcomes therein. Commencing September 1, 2012, the required

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physical education curriculum shall be based on the physical education standards of the Rhode

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Island physical education framework: supporting physically active lifestyles through quality

 

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physical education as promulgated by the Rhode Island department of education and consistent

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with the instructional outcomes therein.

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

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consultation with the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

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hospitals, substance-abuse prevention and suicide prevention into the health education

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

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

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

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

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health awareness and suicide prevention. Further, "substance-abuse prevention" and suicide

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prevention programs shall specifically include information provided to students that mixing

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opioids and alcohol can cause accidental death.

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     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 [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 -- THE

RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT]

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     This act would require that instruction in health and physical education include

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information provided to students that mixing opioids and alcohol can cause accidental death.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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