Assigned to HEALTH & APPROP AS
PASSED BY THE SENATE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Forty-seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1346
methamphetamine education fund; children; warnings
Purpose
Appropriates $8.5 million from the state General Fund in FY 2006-2007 to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for public service announcements, to warn children about certain harmful effects of methamphetamine use.
Background
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that can be injected, snorted, smoked or ingested orally. The effects of methamphetamine include increased activity, decreased appetite and a sense of well being. According to the National Institutes for Drug Abuse, methamphetamine use increases the heart rate and can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, which may produce strokes. It may also result in cardiovascular conditions, convulsions and death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2003 (the most recent year for which data is available), 8.6 percent of Arizona students in grades 9 through 12 reported using methamphetamine at least once in their life, compared to the national average of 7.6 percent.
DHS provides methamphetamine abuse treatment through its substance abuse services programs (which are part of the behavioral health system). Laws 2005, Chapter 327 allows DHS to accept and spend private monies for methamphetamine education and outlines guidelines for the distribution of the monies. The legislation prohibits DHS from spending state General Fund monies for this program. DHS reports that no monies have been collected as of January 2006. DHS does not currently have a methamphetamine education and prevention program that is funded from any other sources.
In November 2005, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America began an advertising campaign targeting methamphetamine use. The ads are running in 23 cities, but not in any Arizona cities. During the same month, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office began airing television advertisements that highlight the physical effects of methamphetamine.
S.B. 1346 appropriates $8.5 million to DHS for public service announcements directed at children about the harmful effects of methamphetamine.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Methamphetamine Education Fund (Fund), consisting of legislative appropriations and administered by DHS.
2. Stipulates that monies in the Fund are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing.
3. Requires DHS to use monies in the Fund for radio and television public service announcements to warn children about physical deterioration and the risk of death associated with using methamphetamines.
4. Prohibits the public service announcements from featuring any elected official; defines elected official as:
a) state and county elected officials.
b) certain local elected officials.
c) the administrator of the Fund Manager.
d) Supreme Court justices.
e) Court of Appeals and superior court judges.
f) full-time superior court commissioners.
5. Appropriates $8.5 million to DHS in FY 2006-2007 for the public service announcements.
6. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
7. Requires DHS to evaluate the announcements and submit a biennial report to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to the Secretary of State and the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
8. Requires the first report to include data beginning in FY 2006-2007 and to be submitted by November 15, 2006.
9. Contains an intent statement.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Appropriations Committee
· Appropriates $8.5 million to DHS.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Prohibits announcements from including an elected official
2. Adds an intent statement.
Senate Action
HEALTH 2/6/06 DP 5-0-2
APPROP 2/14/06 DPA 9-1-1
3rd Read 3/6/06 29-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2006
BKL/jas