N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:16-3.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 6A:16-3.1 - Establishment of comprehensive alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse programs

(a) Each district board of education shall establish a comprehensive program of prevention, intervention, referral for evaluation, referral for treatment, and continuity of care for student alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse in the school district's public elementary and secondary schools, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-3, 10, and 15.

1. The purpose of the prevention component of the program shall be to:

i. Keep students from using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs;

ii. Reduce or eliminate the incidence and prevalence of student alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse;

iii. Reduce the factors that place students at risk for involvement with alcohol, tobacco or other drugs through school and community-based planning processes;

iv. Contribute to the development of school environments and alternative activities that are alcohol, tobacco and other drug-free;

v. Increase the knowledge and skills of students, staff and community members for avoiding the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; and

vi. Actively involve staff, students, parents, and other community members in the development and implementation of prevention program plans.

2. The purpose of the intervention, referral for evaluation, and referral for treatment components of the program shall be to:

i. Identify students who are at risk for, or who have exhibited, alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse or related problems;

ii. Help students or their parents who have requested assistance for alcohol, tobacco or other drug abuse problems;

iii. Make a preliminary assessment of a student's need for educational programs, supportive services or treatment that extends beyond the general school program by virtue of the use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs by the student or the student's parents;

iv. Refer students for evaluation to make a positive determination regarding a student's need for alcohol, tobacco, or other drug treatment;

v. Help a student or a student's parents follow through on the recommendations resulting from an evaluation that has positively determined the harmful use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs by the student or the student's parents; and

vi. Assist a student or a student's parents with a referral for treatment.

3. The purpose of the continuity of care component of the program shall be to:

i. Assist with the provision of educational programs and services for students in treatment; and

ii. Plan and provide supportive services for students who are returning from treatment.

4. Each district board of education shall ensure that all educational staff members receive in-service training in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention and intervention, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-3 and 15.

i. The in-service training shall be updated annually to ensure educational staff members have the most current information available on the subject of substance abuse and on the school district's comprehensive alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse program, policies, and procedures.

5. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-18.c, student assistance coordinators employed by district boards of education shall assist school districts in the effective implementation of N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-1 through 18.

6. When a student assistance coordinator is not employed or contracted by a district board of education, the board shall assign school staff with appropriate educational services certificates to perform the student assistance coordinator functions, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-18.c and (a)5 above, and to assist in the effective implementation of the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-1 through 17.

i. The district board of education shall maintain documentation of school staff with appropriate educational services certificates who will perform the student assistance coordinator functions.

7. Each district board of education shall establish educational programs on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse for parents, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-16 and 17(a), and offered at times and places convenient to the parents of enrolled students.

8. Each district board of education shall make and enforce rules to prohibit any person from smoking or carrying lighted tobacco at any time on school grounds or on school buses or other vehicles owned or contracted by the board of education, pursuant to P.L. 2009, c. 182, P.L. 2005, c. 383, N.J.A.C. 13:28-6.14, and N.J.A.C. 8:6.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:16-3.1

Amended by R.2002 d.396, effective 12/16/2002.
See: 34 N.J.R. 3157(a), 34 N.J.R. 4433(a).
In (a)7, substituted "smoking of any substance and the use of tobacco products anywhere in its buildings or on school grounds, except" for "smoking of tobacco anywhere in its buildings except".
Amended by R.2006 d.366, effective 10/16/2006.
See: 38 N.J.R. 2294(a), 38 N.J.R. 4411(c).
In (a)1ii, inserted "or eliminate"; in (a)1iii, substituted "Increase" for "Reduce"; in (a)2, substituted "parents" for "family" throughout; in (a)2ii, substituted "parents" for "families"; in (a)4, inserted "school"; added designation for (a)4i; in (a)5, updated the N.J.A.C. reference; and in (a)6, deleted "and guardians" following "parents" two times.
Amended by R.2007 d.184, effective 6/4/2007.
See: 39 N.J.R. 294(a), 39 N.J.R. 2243(a).
In (a)2ii, deleted "an" preceding "alcohol" and substituted "problems" for "problem".
Amended by R.2014 d.047, effective 3/17/2014.
See: 45 N.J.R. 987(a), 46 N.J.R. 505(a).
Section was "Establishment of comprehensive alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse programs". Rewrote the section.
Administrative change.
See: 46 N.J.R. 1743(a).
Amended by R.2021 d.073, effective 7/19/2021.
See: 53 N.J.R. 197(a), 53 N.J.R. 1216(a).
Rewrote (a)5.