Legislation Document

WHEREAS, 308 lives were lost in 2017 in Delaware to drug-related overdoses; and

WHEREAS, over the extended Thanksgiving weekend in 2017, there were 11 overdose deaths; and

WHEREAS, The News Journal reported on May 1, 2018, that there were 47 overdoses, with 7 of those victims dying, in just one weekend in our state, which has become all too typical; and

WHEREAS, according to 2015 data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, babies born exposed to drugs such as heroin and opiates cost an average of $66,700 for a 16-day hospital stay, compared with the average $3,500 hospital bill for the birth of a healthy child; and

WHEREAS, The News Journal reported that in 2017, 431 babies were born in Delaware exposed to drugs such as heroin and opiates; and

WHEREAS, drug prevention education programs must be provided in every grade in every public school in this State; and

WHEREAS, the Botvin LifeSkills Training program, which is used in some classrooms in Delaware and in the Boys & Girls Clubs, has been cited for excellence by numerous organizations, including the U.S. Department of Education, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and

WHEREAS, studies testing the effectiveness of the Botvin LifeSkills Training program have found that the program can reduce the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by as much as 80%; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Social Services was awarded a federal grant of an additional $2 million this year to cover addiction treatment; and

WHEREAS, according to a recent report on the economic benefit of evidence-based prevention programs, the Botvin LifeSkills Training program produced a $50 benefit for every $1 invested in terms of reduced corrections costs, welfare and social services burdens, drug and mental health treatment, and increased employment and tax revenue.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware Youth Drug Prevention Curriculum Task Force (“Task Force”) be created.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be established to examine available drug prevention programs and to recommend a course of action to educate our youth about the dangers of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use to reduce the chance that youth will experiment with these substances.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is comprised of the following members, or a designee appointed by the member serving by virtue of position:

(1) Two State Senators, 1 from the majority caucus and 1 from the minority caucus, appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate who shall appoint 1 of these State Senators as Co-Chair.

(2) Two State Representatives, 1 from the majority caucus and 1 from the minority caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall appoint 1 of these State Representatives as Co-Chair.

(3) The President of the State Board of Education.

(4) The Secretary of the Department of Education.

(5) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.

(6) The Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families.

(7) The Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware.

(8) The President of the Delaware Association of School Administrators.

(9) The Director of the University of Delaware Center for Drug & Health Studies.

(10) Three members of the public with expertise in heroin and opioid addiction, appointed by the Governor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a quorum of the Task Force is a majority of its members.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

(1) Official action by the Task Force, including making findings and recommendations, requires the approval of a quorum of the Task Force.

(2) The Task Force may adopt rules necessary for its operation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Co-Chairs of this Task Force are responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force by doing, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Setting a date, time, and place for the initial organizational meeting.

(2) Notifying the individuals listed in lines 36 through 42 of the formation of the Task Force and the need to appoint a member.

(3) Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports of the Task Force.

(4) Sending to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, after the first meeting of the Task Force, a list of the members of the Task Force and the person who appointed them.

(5) Providing meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.

(6) Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall hold its first meeting no later than September 4, 2018.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly is responsible for providing reasonable and necessary support staff and materials for the Task Force to carry out its mission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Co-Chairs of the Task Force shall compile a report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it in lines 27 through 29 of this Resolution, including any findings and recommendations, and submit the report to all members of the General Assembly and the Governor no later than December 31, 2018.

SPONSOR:	Sen. Richardson & Rep. Briggs King & Rep. D. Short
Sens. Hocker, Lawson, Marshall, Pettyjohn, Simpson; Reps. Dukes, Miro, Osienski, Wilson