GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1846

Short Title:  Study/Help Mom Say No To Drugs.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Sherrill; and Adams.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

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May 30, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY HOW TO HELP PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ABUSE DRUGS TO BECOME HEALTHY MOTHERS WITH HEALTHY BABIES.   
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study the relationship between drug abuse by pregnant women and medical complications for both mother and child.  The Legislative Research Commission may also study the services and treatment needed by these women, and the most effective ways to deliver those services and treatment.   In its study the Legislative Research Commission may consider all of the following:
(1)	Data regarding the extent of the problem in this State. 
(2)	The health risks (short term and long term) to mother and baby resulting from drug use during the mother's pregnancy.
(3)	The current programs, services, and medical treatment available to pregnant women of all economic levels and ages who need help for drug abuse.
(4)	The number of pregnant women who seek assistance for their drug problem and who successfully complete a substance abuse program and the reasons for this.
(5)	The number of pregnant women who seek assistance for their drug program but who either do not receive help or who do not follow through in their efforts to obtain help, and  the reasons for this.
(6)	The number of pregnant women who never seek assistance for their drug problem and the reasons for this.
(7)	The economic, social, and health costs that individuals, families, and communities bear as a result of this drug abuse problem.  
(8)	The various methods to deliver the services, medical treatment, and assistance needed by pregnant women to address drug abuse problems and how to provide health services and substance abuse treatment services, if at all, to pregnant women who do not voluntarily seek those services.
(9)	Any other relevant issues.
Section 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may make its findings and recommendation in an interim report to the 2001 General Assembly, Regular Session 2002, and may make a final report to the 2003 General Assembly.
Section 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2000-2001 fiscal year to implement this act.
Section 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2000.