HB 902

ON APRIL 14, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 821, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, establish a pilot program that provides grants to local education agencies ("LEAs"") to advance substance abuse and violence prevention programs. As used in this amendment, a ""substance abuse and violence prevention program"" is a program or series of programs that meets all of the following criteria:  Equips students with knowledge, skills, and resilience for healthy living and strong decision-making.  Fosters long-term resilience against substance use, mental health challenges, and preventable disorders by engaging families and communities as active partners in student development.  Includes a series of lessons that address the risk and protective factors associated with youth substance use and violence.  Is age and developmentally appropriate for the age and maturity level of the student receiving the instruction.  Aligns with the coordinated school health program guidelines developed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the department of health.  Includes drug prevention-related education that promotes anti-drug norms and teaches drug-refusal skills and life skills training that foster the development of personal self-management skills and general social skills.  Is provided to students throughout the school year. A grant awarded pursuant to this amendment must not exceed $13, 000. This amendment requires the department of education (""department"") to administer the three-year pilot program to provide grants to three LEAs to advance each LEA's substance abuse and violence prevention program to avoid tobacco, alcohol, and illicit dru g use by students. The pilot program begins in the 2026-2027 school year and terminates on July 1, 2029. GRANT REQUIREMENTS In order to receive a grant through the program, this amendment requires an LEA to have an existing substance abuse and violence prevention program for students and submit a grant application to the department of education by the application deadline est ablished by the department of education. This amendment requires each LEA that receives a grant to instruct students in grades 3-12 on avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs by implementing a substance abuse and violence prevention program, and prepare a report on the effectiveness of the program, including the instruction provided to students through the program, for the immediately preceding school year. This amendment requires the report to be submitted by June 30, 2027, for the 2026-2027 school year and by June 30 of each subsequent school year that the pilot program is in effect, to all of the following:  Department of education.  Department of mental health and substance abuse services.  Department of human services.  Chairs of the education and health and welfare committees of the senate.  Chairs of the committees of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over education, health, and insurance. ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 821 FOR HOUSE BILL 902, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #3, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 821, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #3 deletes language specifying that this bill is not an appropriation of funds. ON APRIL 23, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT # 3 ."