SPONSOR: Keathley
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Children and Families by a vote of 16 to 0.
Currently, only public high schools may establish a recovery high school for students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency.
This bill defines "sponsoring entity" and includes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, magnet schools, charter schools, and public and private schools as entities that may establish a recovery high school.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that they have experienced addiction while in high school, and did not have a recovery high school to go to that would serve as a shield from all of the possible triggers into relapse that currently exist in non-recovery high schools. These schools have the potential to alter the life course of a student who is able to attend, including for college preparedness, community reintegration, and peer support.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Keathley; Brady Lindsey; John Kintz; Jordan De Walle; Melissa Mouton; Tiph Jones; Debra Cochran; Missouri NEA.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this bill would result in duplicated programs and services, which would be a waste of taxpayer money. Mental health programs and grants already exist all throughout the state and the Midwest more broadly, and there are no mechanisms in place within the bill to prevent fraud, waste, and the greed of certain persons administering the programs.
Testifying in person against the bill was Arnie C. Dienoff.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: