Creates a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school as an alternative public or charter school to address drug and alcohol abuse in schools. Establishes the school structure, including eligibility requirements, program content, and operational parameters.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that substance abuse poses a major threat to Hawaii's residents, particularly its young people. While education is often cited as the key to the future, for a growing number of our children, this is a future that is ruined by drugs. The legislature further finds that drug treatment and prevention programs represent a more efficient use of resources than simple incarceration.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to create a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school as a new type of public school. Under this new school, the public school system in cooperation with public and private entities can educate juvenile substance abusers and provide treatment that may prevent future incarceration and increased social costs to society.

"Part . VOLUNTARY SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHABILITATION SCHOOL

§302A-A Voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school; establishment. The voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school shall be created as either a charter or public school.

§302A-B Eligibility. (a) A child shall be eligible for enrollment in a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school if:

(b) Continued eligibility is contingent on continued enrollment in a substance abuse rehabilitation program, continued attendance at regularly scheduled meetings of the program, submission to random, twice-a-week substance abuse testing pursuant to section 302A-D, and parent attendance at regular weekly support meetings.

§302A-C Educational curriculum. The department shall determine the minimum level of educational content of a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school pursuant to section 302A-1128. The educational program at a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school shall meet the minimum requirements for high school graduation, but may include additional levels of educational content in its curriculum. A child, at any time, may elect to:

§302A-D Treatment content. Testing for substance abuse shall be a part of the treatment program at a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school. At a minimum, testing shall be conducted on a random, twice-a-week basis.

(b) The voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school shall hold weekly support meetings for its students."

SECTION 3. Section 302A-1134.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:

"(b) Any child who possesses, sells, consumes, or uses intoxicating liquor or illicit drugs, while attending school or while attending department-supervised activities held on or off school property, shall be offered the choice to enroll in a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school as established in part . If the child elects not to enroll in that school, the child may be excluded from attending school for up to ninety-two school days, as determined by the principal and approved by the superintendent or other individuals designated pursuant to rules adopted by the board.

(c) Any child who reasonably appears to have consumed or used intoxicating liquor or illicit drugs prior to attending school or attending department-supervised activities held on or off school property, shall be offered the choice to enroll in a voluntary substance abuse rehabilitation school as established in part . If the child elects not to enroll in that school, the child may be excluded from attending school for up to ninety-two school days, as determined by the principal and approved by the superintendent or other individuals designated pursuant to rules adopted by the board."

SECTION 4. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.