GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 369

Short Title:  DARE/DART Program Expansion/AB.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Odom, Cooper, Forrester; Albertson, Allran, Ballance, Ballantine, Blust, Carpenter, Carrington, Cochrane, Conder, Dalton, Dannelly, East, Foxx, Garwood, Gulley, Jenkins, Jordan, Kerr, Kincaid, Ledbetter, Lee, Lucas, Martin of Pitt, McDaniel, Miller, Phillips, Rand, Reeves, Rucho, Shaw of Cumberland, Soles, Warren, Weinstein, and Wellons.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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March 11, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR EXPANDING THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL RECOVERY TREATMENT CONTINUING CARE PROGRAM AND TO REQUIRE THE EXPANSION OF THE DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM TO THE SEVENTH AND NINTH GRADES AS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED INITIATIVES.
PART I.  DART CONTINUING CARE PROGRAM.
Whereas, the Governor's Task Force on Driving While Impaired has recommended that a program be created to provide DART participants with a flexible aftercare program as they reenter their communities; and
Whereas, the DART (Drug and Alcohol Recovery Treatment) program at the Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro is designed for DWI offenders who have served active prison sentences (and are eligible for parole) and for DWI offenders who have a treatment recommendation from the sentencing judge (as a condition of their probationary sentence); and
Whereas, although the program has shown considerable success, there is not a structured aftercare system for clients as they return home and reenter the community; and
Whereas, one suggestion is to provide a structured level of response that corresponds to the individual's specific needs including the services of a DART counselor, a probation or parole officer, and a nurse, customized to meet the needs of the individual; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Correction the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to operate a flexible aftercare program for Drug Alcohol Recovery Treatment participants as they reenter their communities.
PART II.  EXPAND THE DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION (DARE) PROGRAM TO THE SEVENTH AND NINTH GRADES.
Section 2.  G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(38)	Expand DARE Program to Seventh and Ninth Grades. – Local boards of education shall use available State and federal resources to expand the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program to the seventh and ninth grades."
PART III.  EFFECTIVE DATE.
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.