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Bill

HB 1755

TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamie Scott and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1755 aimed to require all Arkansas public schools to annually survey students on substance abuse, mental health, and safety to improve student well-being.

Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 1755

Summary of House Bill 1755

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HB 1755
Title: To Require Each Public School to Participate in the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey
Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment
Introduced: March 12, 2025
Sponsor: Representative T. Shephard, Senator J. Scott

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1755 aimed to mandate the participation of all public schools in Arkansas in the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey. The primary intent of this legislation was to gather data on various issues affecting students, including substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, drugs), mental health, academic performance, and violence. The results from this survey were intended to inform strategies for improving student well-being and safety.

Key Provisions

The bill included several important provisions:

  1. Mandatory Participation:

    • Starting from the 2025-2026 school year, all public schools in Arkansas would be required to administer the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey annually.

  2. Survey Administration:

    • The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health within the Department of Human Services would be responsible for maintaining the survey and providing technical assistance to schools for its administration.

  3. Parental Notification:

    • School districts were required to notify parents and guardians in writing before the survey was administered, informing them of their right to opt-out their children from participating.

  4. Reporting Requirements:

    • Prior to each annual survey, the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health was to provide the previous year's survey results to key legislative leaders and committees.

  5. Funding Considerations:

    • The implementation of the survey was contingent upon the availability of federal funding. If federal funding was insufficient, the requirement for annual administration of the survey would not be enforced.

  6. Definition of the Survey:

    • The bill defined the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey as an annual survey targeting students in grades six, eight, ten, and twelve.

  7. Rule Promulgation:

    • The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the State Board of Education were authorized to create rules necessary for the execution of this section.

Impact

The bill was designed to impact public schools, students, and their families by providing valuable data to help address critical issues affecting youth. By requiring schools to participate in the survey, the legislation aimed to enhance the understanding of student needs and inform prevention and intervention strategies.

Procedural Aspects

  • Legislative Actions:
    • The bill was filed on March 12, 2025, and was read and referred to the House Education Committee the same day.
    • It ultimately died in the House Committee on May 5, 2025, at Sine Die adjournment, meaning it did not progress to a vote or further consideration.

Conclusion

While HB 1755 sought to establish a framework for addressing significant issues affecting Arkansas students through data collection, it did not advance through the legislative process. The lack of further action highlights the challenges faced by proposed legislation in gaining traction within the legislative environment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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