By: Watson, Zaffirini S.B. No. 1344 (In the Senate - Filed March 4, 2009; March 17, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 21, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 21, 2009, sent to printer.) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1344 By: Gallegos A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an alcohol awareness component of the health curriculum used in public schools. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Carson Starkey Alcohol Awareness and Education Act. SECTION 2. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (r) to read as follows: (r) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the health curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the State Board of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills that address the dangers, causes, consequences, signs, symptoms, and treatment of binge drinking and alcohol poisoning. The agency shall compile a list of evidence-based alcohol awareness programs from which a school district shall choose a program to use in the district's middle school, junior high school, and high school health curriculum. In this subsection, "evidence-based alcohol awareness program" means a program, practice, or strategy that has been proven to effectively prevent or delay alcohol use among students, as determined by evaluations that use valid and reliable measures and that are published in peer-reviewed journals. SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. * * * * *