The bill amends the Revised Code to enhance substance use education in Ohio schools by requiring the Department of Education and Workforce, in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, to develop a list of evidence-based curricula and instructional strategies. It mandates that both nonchartered nonpublic schools and chartered nonpublic schools provide age-appropriate instruction on the harmful effects of substance use, with the latter having the flexibility to determine how this instruction is delivered. Additionally, the bill requires school districts and public schools to report annually on their prevention-focused programs and services, including curriculum, professional development, and the number of substance abuse cases.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new requirements for educational institutions to provide annual instruction on the harmful effects of substance use for students in grades K-12, ensuring that the content is age and developmentally appropriate. It allows the Department of Education to use reported information to guide funding distribution for prevention programs and defines "substance use" to encompass various substances, including marijuana, alcohol, and opioids. The bill also repeals existing sections of the Revised Code related to substance use education, streamlining the legal framework to improve prevention education practices.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.60, 3313.6024
As Reported By Senate Committee: 3301.0732, 3313.60, 3313.6024
As Passed By Senate: 3301.0732, 3313.60, 3313.6024