PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Colleges and universities must have and use a drug and alcohol prevention program to get any federal money or take part in federal student loan programs. Each year they must give every student and employee written rules that ban illegal drug and alcohol use on campus or at school events, explain the criminal penalties, describe health risks, list available counseling or treatment, and say what punishments the school may use (including expulsion, firing, or referral for criminal charges). Every two years the school must review the program to see if it works, count drug- and alcohol-related incidents and deaths on campus or at school events that were reported, count the punishments it imposed for those incidents, and make sure the rules and punishments are applied fairly. Schools must give copies of their written materials and the two-year review to the Secretary of Education and to the public if asked. The Secretary of Education must write rules to carry out and enforce these requirements. Those rules will include checking a sample of school programs and a range of responses if a school does not follow the rules, from help and technical advice to a compliance plan or stopping federal funds. Required school punishments may include completing a rehab program. If the Secretary decides to stop federal aid, the school has 30 days to appeal to an administrative law judge, who must hold a hearing within 45 days unless extended; the judge’s decision is final. The Secretary may also give competitive grants or contracts to schools or groups to create, run, improve, and share prevention and treatment-referral programs, support a prevention center, encourage fair public/private and geographic participation, consider smaller schools, and accept applications under rules the Secretary sets. Money was authorized as needed for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five years after that.

Title 20, §1011i

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Restriction on eligibility

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no institution of higher education shall be eligible to receive funds or any other form of financial assistance under any Federal program, including participation in any federally funded or guaranteed student loan program, unless the institution certifies to the Secretary that the institution has adopted and has implemented a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees that, at a minimum, includes—

(1)the annual distribution to each student and employee of—

(A)standards of conduct that clearly prohibit, at a minimum, the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on the institution’s property or as part of any of the institution’s activities;

(B)a description of the applicable legal sanctions under local, State, or Federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;

(C)a description of the health-risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol;

(D)a description of any drug or alcohol counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs that are available to employees or students; and

(E)a clear statement that the institution will impose sanctions on students and employees (consistent with local, State, and Federal law), and a description of those sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution, for violations of the standards of conduct required by subparagraph (A); and

(2)a biennial review by the institution of the institution’s program to—

(A)determine the program’s effectiveness and implement changes to the program if the changes are needed;

(B)determine the number of drug and alcohol-related violations and fatalities that—

(i)occur on the institution’s campus (as defined in section 1092(f)(6) of this title), or as part of any of the institution’s activities; and

(ii)are reported to campus officials;

(C)determine the number and type of sanctions described in paragraph (1)(E) that are imposed by the institution as a result of drug and alcohol-related violations and fatalities on the institution’s campus or as part of any of the institution’s activities; and

(D)ensure that the sanctions required by paragraph (1)(E) are consistently enforced.

(b)Information availability

Each institution of higher education that provides the certification required by subsection (a) shall, upon request, make available to the Secretary and to the public a copy of each item required by subsection (a)(1) as well as the results of the biennial review required by subsection (a)(2).

(c)Regulations

(1)In general

The Secretary shall publish regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this section, including regulations that provide for— (A)

(B)a range of responses and sanctions for institutions of higher education that fail to implement their programs or to consistently enforce their sanctions, including information and technical assistance, the development of a compliance agreement, and the termination of any form of Federal financial assistance.

(2)Rehabilitation program

The sanctions required by subsection (a)(1)(E) may include the completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program.

(d)Appeals

Upon determination by the Secretary to terminate financial assistance to any institution of higher education under this section, the institution may file an appeal with an administrative law judge before the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date such institution is notified of the decision to terminate financial assistance under this section. Such judge shall hold a hearing with respect to such termination of assistance before the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date that such appeal is filed. Such judge may extend such 45-day period upon a motion by the institution concerned. The decision of the judge with respect to such termination shall be considered to be a final agency action.

(e)Alcohol and drug abuse prevention grants

(1)Program authority

The Secretary may make grants to institutions of higher education or consortia of such institutions, and enter into contracts with such institutions, consortia, and other organizations, to develop, implement, operate, improve, and disseminate programs of prevention, and education (including treatment-referral) to reduce and eliminate the illegal use of drugs and alcohol and the violence associated with such use. Such grants or contracts may also be used for the support of a higher education center for alcohol and drug abuse prevention that will provide training, technical assistance, evaluation, dissemination, and associated services and assistance to the higher education community as determined by the Secretary and institutions of higher education.

(2)Awards

Grants and contracts shall be awarded under paragraph (1) on a competitive basis.

(3)Applications

An institution of higher education, a consortium of such institutions, or another organization that desires to receive a grant or contract under paragraph (1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require by regulation.

(4)Additional requirements

(A)Participation

In awarding grants and contracts under this subsection the Secretary shall make every effort to ensure—

(i)the equitable participation of private and public institutions of higher education (including community and junior colleges); and

(ii)the equitable geographic participation of such institutions.

(B)Consideration

In awarding grants and contracts under this subsection the Secretary shall give appropriate consideration to institutions of higher education with limited enrollment.

(5)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to subsecs. (a) to (d) of this section were contained in section 1145g of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a)(2)(B) to (D). Pub. L. 110–315, § 107(1), added subpars. (B) and (C) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (D). Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 110–315, § 107(2), substituted “such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years” for “$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–315, § 107(3), struck out subsec. (f) which related to National Recognition Awards for outstanding alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs.

§1011i Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention