OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 205 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 205’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Johnson
Effective date:
Mariah M. Maldovan, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Requires the instruction in the harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the use of
drugs of abuse, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco provided under a school district’s
health curriculum to be given annually, be developmentally appropriate, and include
information on the harmful effects of the use of illicit exogenous substances.
 Requires the instruction in the harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the use of
drugs of abuse to include instruction regarding marijuana.
 Requires the Department of Education and Workforce to collaborate with the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to review available resources and
develop a list of evidence-based curricula, materials, programs, and instructional
strategies related to the required health curriculum.
 Requires the Department of Education and Workforce to conduct a survey on school
district compliance with the required health curriculum.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Instruction on drugs of abuse, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco
The bill modifies the existing requirement that school districts provide instruction in the
harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the use of drugs of abuse, alcoholic beverages,
and tobacco, including electronic smoking devices, as part of the district’s health curriculum.
Under the bill, such instruction must be developmentally appropriate and provided annually.
The bill also requires the curriculum specifically to include instruction on marijuana as a drug of
abuse. The bill further requires the instruction include information on how both short-term and
December 20, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
chronic use of illicit exogenous substances to alter one’s mood is one of the most harmful
things an individual can do for their health.1
Under the bill, the Department of Education and Workforce must collaborate with the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to review available resources and develop
a list of evidence-based curricula, materials, programs, and instructional strategies related to
the required health curriculum that may be used by school districts.2
Survey on health curriculum compliance
The bill requires the Department of Education and Workforce to conduct a survey of
school districts on the ways in which districts are complying with the required health
curriculum. The survey must include data on the curriculum, materials, programs, and
instructional strategies being used for health instruction. School districts are required to submit
responses to the survey in a manner determined by the Department.
The Department must begin conducting the survey within one year of the bill’s effective
date. The bill gives the Department discretion to determine the end of the survey period.
Within 60 days of the end of the survey period, the Department must publish the survey results
on its website.3
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 12-11-23
ANSB0205IN-135/ts
1 R.C. 3313.60(A)(5)(b).
2 R.C. 3301.0722.
3 Section 3.
P a g e |2 S.B. 205
As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.60