Legislation designed by local youth approaches approval

Legislation designed by a group of Shawnee students is one vote away from Gov. Brad Henry’s desk.
 House Bill 2705, by State Rep. Kris Steele, would require that drug-and-alcohol abuse-and-prevention education be included in all prenatal care offered to expectant parents in Oklahoma. The legislation was requested and developed by members of the Shawnee Youth Coalition.
Members of the group personally lobbied lawmakers during the session.
 “I am so proud that kids from my community are making a positive contribution to our legislative process,” said Steele, R-Shawnee. “This legislation will help equip parents to appropriately deal with a serious issue in society and could ultimately save lives from the terrible consequences of drug or alcohol addiction.”
 Last summer, Steele offered to carry legislation developed by the youth at the Shawnee Youth Coalition’s “Youth Speak Out” conference.
Concerned about the issue of underage drinking and the growing trend of parents providing liquor to teenagers, coalition members opted to promote parental education on the dangers of underage drinking.
House Bill 2705 would require prenatal classes to include information on the risks of drug or alcohol use during pregnancy to the unborn child and to the mother; the risks of underage drinking, including information to assist new parents in preventing underage drinking in their own children; and information on screening, assessment, intervention, and referral for treatment of substance dependency.
House Bill 2705 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives 95-0 today and now goes to the Senate for a final vote. If approved in that chamber, it will go to the governor to be signed into law.