SB228 • 2026

PUBLIC SCHOOLS; OPIOID AWARENESS PROGRAM

An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public education; and relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention.

Children Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: SENATOR RAUSCHER
Last action: 2026-04-27
Official status: (S) FIN
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text directs the proposal for funding but does not guarantee that the settlement funds will actually be allocated or approved by the committee.

Alaska SB228: Opioid Awareness in Schools

This law requires the Department of Education and Early Development to create a curriculum on opioid abuse awareness for students in grades six through twelve, which school districts must teach annually.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Education and Early Development to develop an opioid abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for students in grades six through 12.
Mandates at least 60 minutes of instruction annually covering dangers of opioids, fentanyl risks including drugs designed to look like candy, drug science, safe use of prescription medications, and early warning signs of addiction.
Directs school districts to teach this curriculum during or as close as practicable to the last week in October each year.
Requires officials to consult with the Department of Health, tribal entities, residents experienced in overdose response, and family members of individuals who have had an opioid overdose when building the curriculum.
Directs the Department of Health to propose using funds from a national opioid settlement to pay for developing this educational program.

Who It Names or Affects

Students in grades six through twelve attending public schools
School districts responsible for teaching the required lessons
The Department of Education and Early Development tasked with creating the curriculum
The Department of Health involved in proposing funding allocations

Terms To Know

Opioid abuse or addiction: A physical or mental dependency on opioids, or a lack of self-control in using them that harms health or disrupts social and economic life.
Fentanyl risks for children: Dangers related to drugs containing fentanyl, including those designed to look like candy.
National opioid settlement funds: Money received by the state from a legal agreement regarding opioids that may be allocated to develop this curriculum.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify an exact effective date in the provided text.
It is unclear if the committee will approve the proposal to use national opioid settlement funds for this program.
School districts must teach near the last week of October, but may adjust timing if that specific time is not practical.

Bill History

2026-04-27 2365
(S) REFERRED TO FINANCE
2026-04-27 2365
(S) FN2: ZERO(DOH)
2026-04-27 2365
(S) FN1: (EED)
2026-04-27 2365
(S) DP: TOBIN, YUNDT, STEVENS, KIEHL
2026-04-27 2365
(S) EDC RPT CS 4DP NEW TITLE
2026-04-24 Text
(S) Moved CSSB 228(EDC) Out of Committee
2026-04-24 Text
(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2026-03-20 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-03-20 Text
(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
2026-01-28 1557
(S) EDC, FIN
2026-01-28 1557
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

PUBLIC SCHOOLS; OPIOID AWARENESS PROGRAM
An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public education; and relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB0228B -1- CSSB 228(EDC)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1320\I

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 228(EDC)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Offered: 4/27/26
Referred: Finance

Sponsor(s): SENATOR RAUSCHER
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; 1
relating to public education; relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention; and 2
relating to funds received from the national opioid settlement." 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
* Section 1. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 5
Sec. 14.30.363. Opioid abuse awareness and prevention curriculum. (a) 6
The department shall develop an opioid abuse awareness and prevention curriculum 7
for students in grades six through 12 relating to the dangers associated with, and the 8
physical, psychological, and physiological consequences related to, opioid abuse and 9
opioid addiction. The curriculum must provide at least 60 minutes of instruction 10
annually relating to opioid abuse awareness and prevention, including 11
(1) the dangers of using opioids, including drugs that may contain 12
fentanyl; 13
(2) awareness of opioids that target children, including drugs 14
34-LS1320\I
CSSB 228(EDC) -2- SB0228B
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

containing fentanyl that are designed to look like candy; 1
(3) the science related to using opioids, including drugs that contain 2
fentanyl; 3
(4) prevention of opioid abuse, including safe use of opioid 4
prescription medications; and 5
(5) detection of early warning signs related to opioid addiction in 6
school-aged children. 7
(b) In developing the curriculum, the department shall consult with 8
(1) the Department of Health; 9
(2) state and tribal entities and state residents that have experience in 10
reducing, preventing, and responding to opioid overdoses, including overdoses caused 11
by drugs containing fentanyl; and 12
(3) family members of individuals who have had an opioid overdose, 13
including overdoses caused by drugs containing fentanyl. 14
(c) Each school district shall teach the curriculum 15
(1) to students in grades six through 12; and 16
(2) during, or as close as practicable to, the last week in October. 17
(d) In this section, 18
(1) "curriculum" means the opioid abuse awareness and prevention 19
curriculum described in (a) of this section; 20
(2) "drugs" has the meaning given in AS 47.37.270; 21
(3) "opioid" has the meaning given in AS 17.20.085(g); 22
(4) "opioid abuse" and "opioid addiction" mean 23
(A) a physiological or psychological dependency, or both, on 24
an opioid; or 25
(B) habitual lack of self-control in using opioids to the extent 26
that a person's health is substantially impaired or a person's social or economic 27
function is substantially disrupted; 28
(5) "school district" has the meaning given in AS 14.30.350. 29
* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 30
read: 31
34-LS1320\I
SB0228B -3- CSSB 228(EDC)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS. Within six months after the effective 1
date of this Act, the Department of Health shall present a proposal to the committee 2
established in the Department of Health that is responsible for advising the department on the 3
allocation of funds received from the national opioid settlement. The proposal must request 4
that the committee approve the allocation of funds received from the settlement to the 5
Department of Education and Early Development to develop the curriculum required under 6
AS 14.30.363, enacted by sec. 1 of this Act. 7