SECTION 210.
The department of elementary and secondary education, in conjunction with the department of public health, shall create a task force to develop a model alcohol, tobacco and drug use prevention and education policy for school districts in the commonwealth. The model policy shall include, but not be limited to: (i) clearly defined goals; (ii) community, parent, teacher and student involvement; (iii) a strategy to encourage communication between students, parents, teachers and administrators; (iv) implementation of an evidence?based substance abuse prevention curriculum for grades 5 to 12, inclusive; (v) prohibitions against substance use as well as discipline and enforcement provisions; (vi) intervention provisions and treatment opportunities; and (vii) a timetable for periodic review and revision. The task force may take into consideration the advisory council on violence prevention's drug use prevention recommendations as required under section 1 of chapter 71 of the General Laws.
The substance abuse prevention curriculum recommended under clause (iv) shall: be an evidence-based curriculum that is age appropriate for the grade in which it will be taught; provide an opportunity for interactive learning opportunities in a small group setting; be a continuous program throughout the school year; and be flexible and able to be modified based upon cultural and geographical differences between school districts. The substance abuse prevention curriculum recommended under clause (iv) may include the participation of a substance abuse counselor.
The task force shall prepare a report outlining the model policy and a plan for implementation in school districts in the commonwealth. The report shall identify the cost of implementing the model policy in each school district in the commonwealth. The task force may, in its report, recommend a grant program or multiple grant programs, which it believes would supplement the model policy in its efforts to educate students about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and drug use and eradicate opiate use among teens; provided, however, that the task force shall identify the cost associated with each grant program that it recommends. The task force shall file its report with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education not later than March 2, 2015.
The department of elementary and secondary education shall publish the model policy on its website and shall distribute the policy to each school district in the commonwealth.