GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 2020

Short Title:  School Drug Use.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Diamont; and Bowman.
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Referred to:  Rules.
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May 11, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ALLOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RAPID-EYE CHECK TO SCREEN STUDENT ATHLETES AND SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS FOR DRUG USE.
Whereas, drug abuse has become a major problem in our society that extends into the school environment; and
Whereas, many athletes have chosen to attempt the alteration or enhancement of their physical effort through the use of drugs; and
Whereas, some athletes consider that their superior physical conditioning may lend them greater tolerance to the harmful effects of drugs than would be true for nonathletes; and
Whereas, coaches, teachers and other school officials need effective methods to determine the possibility that a student is using harmful drugs; and
Whereas, all students may be subject to harm through the operation of a school bus by a driver who is impaired by the use of drugs; and
Whereas, the safety of students demands that there be available methods by which school officials may determine whether any school bus driver is using drugs; and
Whereas, there exists a simple screening procedure known as the Rapid-Eye Check that allows trained personnel to detect abnormal eye functions and signs that might indicate the use of drugs, and that would be followed by more precise testing of those who indicate possible drug use; and
Whereas, the possible benefits to be realized from the Rapid-Eye Check are such that the procedure should be evaluated in the public schools of the State; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  (a)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education the sum of $10,000 to provide training and technical assistance to local school administrative units that the Department shall select to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rapid-Eye Check procedure.  Such administrative units shall demonstrate a commitment to use the procedure in a full range of athletic activities, together with comprehensive early identification and intervention services for all students in the school.  These schools shall also use the procedure to screen its school bus drivers for possible drug use.  The teacher athletic trainer and the school principal or the principal's designee shall be trained in the proper use of the Rapid-Eye Check as a screening process and the athletic trainer shall provide the training and instruction to high school coaches.  Principals or their designees shall use the training to screen bus drivers on a random but regular basis.
(b)	Local school administrative units that are selected for participation shall develop procedures to be followed when there is reasonable suspicion that an athlete or a school bus driver has used alcohol or drugs and when an athlete or school bus driver fails to pass the Rapid-Eye Check and is referred for a clinical assessment.
(c)	Local school administrative units that are selected for participation shall develop procedures for securing treatment for the athlete or school bus driver and for using disciplinary measures with the athlete until that athlete is free from alcohol or drugs or is considered fit to participate in athletics.  Disciplinary measures for bus drivers may include dismissal as a licensed school bus driver.
(d)	The Department shall report the results of this evaluation to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly by June 30, 1990.
Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.