[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 956 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 956

 To amend the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 to establish a 
     program to support and encourage local communities that first 
 demonstrate a comprehensive, long-term commitment to reduce substance 
               abuse among youth, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 1997

   Mr. Portman (for himself, Mr. Hastert, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Rangel) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on 
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 to establish a 
     program to support and encourage local communities that first 
 demonstrate a comprehensive, long-term commitment to reduce substance 
               abuse among youth, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting between sections 1001 and 1002 the 
        following:

         ``CHAPTER 1--OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY'';

        and
            (2) by adding at the end of such chapter the following:

                   ``CHAPTER 2--DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES

``SEC. 1021. FINDINGS.

    ``The Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) Substance abuse among youth has more than doubled in 
        the last four years, with substantial increases in the use of 
        marijuana, inhalants, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and 
        heroin.
            ``(2) The most dramatic increases in substance abuse over 
        the last four years are among younger Americans--13 and 14 year 
        olds.
            ``(3) Casual or periodic substance abuse by youth today 
        will contribute to hard core or chronic substance abuse by the 
        next generation of adults.
            ``(4) Substance abuse is at the core of other problems, 
        such as rising violent teen and violent gang crime, increasing 
        health care costs, HIV infections, teenage pregnancy, high 
        school dropouts, and lower economic productivity.
            ``(5) Increases in substance abuse among youth are due in 
        large part to an erosion of understanding among youth of the 
        high risks associated with substance abuse, and to the 
        softening of peer norms against use.
            ``(6) Substance abuse is a preventable behavior and a 
        treatable disease; in fact, between 1979 and 1992, monthly use 
        of illegal drugs among 12 to 17 year olds declined over 70 
        percent; and data suggests that if parents would simply talk to 
        their children regularly about the dangers of substance abuse, 
        use among youth could be expected to decline by as much as 30 
        percent.
            ``(7) Community anti-drug coalitions throughout the Nation 
        are successfully developing and implementing comprehensive, 
        long-term strategies to reduce substance abuse among youth on a 
        sustained basis.
            ``(8) Intergovernmental cooperation and coordination 
        through national, State, and local or tribal leadership and 
        partnerships are critical to facilitate the reduction of 
        substance abuse among youth in communities throughout the 
        Nation.

``SEC. 1022. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this chapter are--
            ``(1) to help reduce substance abuse among youth in 
        communities throughout the Nation, and over time, to reduce 
        substance abuse among adults;
            ``(2) to strengthen collaboration among communities, the 
        Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal governments, 
        and to enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination 
        on the issue of substance abuse among youth;
            ``(3) to serve as a catalyst for increased citizen 
        participation and greater collaboration among all sectors and 
        organizations of a community that first demonstrates a long-
        term commitment to reducing substance abuse among youth;
            ``(4) to rechannel existing resources from the Federal drug 
        control budget to provide technical assistance, guidance, and 
        financial support to communities that demonstrate a long-term 
        commitment in reducing substance abuse among youth;
            ``(5) to disseminate to communities timely information 
        regarding the state-of-the-art practices and initiatives that 
        have proven effective to reducing substance abuse among youth;
            ``(6) to enhance, not supplant, local community initiatives 
        for reducing substance abuse among youth; and
            ``(7) to encourage the creation of and support for 
        community anti-drug coalitions throughout the Nation.

``SEC. 1023. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this chapter--
            ``(1) the term `Administrator' means the Administrator 
        appointed by the Director pursuant to section 1031(c); and
            ``(2) the term `Director' means the Director of the Office 
        of National Drug Control Policy.

``SEC. 1024. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Office of National Drug Control Policy to carry out this 
        chapter, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, $20,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 1999, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $40,000,000 
        for fiscal year 2001, and $43,500,000 for fiscal year 2002.
            ``(2) Office of national drug control policy.--The 
        authorizations provided in paragraph (1) shall be effective 
        only to the extent that amounts are appropriated for each 
        fiscal year for the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
    ``(b) Administrative Costs.--Not more than the following 
percentages of the amounts authorized under subsection (a) may be used 
to pay administrative costs: 10 percent for fiscal year 1998; six 
percent for fiscal year 1999; four percent for fiscal year 2000; three 
percent for fiscal year 2001; and three percent for fiscal year 2002.

         ``Subchapter I--Drug-Free Communities Support Program

``SEC. 1031. ESTABLISHMENT OF DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy shall establish a program to support communities in the 
development and implementation of comprehensive, long-term plans and 
programs to prevent and treat substance abuse among youth (referred to 
in this chapter as the `Program').
    ``(b) Program.--The Program shall include grant making and 
tracking, technical assistance and training, data collection and 
dissemination on state-of-the-art practices which have proven effective 
in reducing substance abuse, and general administration.
    ``(c) Administration.--Not later than 30 days after receiving 
recommendations from the Advisory Commission established under title 
II, the Director shall appoint an Administrator to carry out the 
Program.

``SEC. 1032. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    ``(a) Grant Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this chapter, a coalition shall meet the following criteria:
            ``(1) Application.--A coalition that desires to receive a 
        grant or to renew a grant under this chapter shall submit an 
        application at such time and in such manner and form as the 
        Administrator shall reasonably require.
            ``(2) Major sector involvement.--A coalition shall consist 
        of one or more representatives of youth, parents, businesses, 
        the media, schools, organizations serving youth, law 
        enforcement, the faith community, civic and fraternal groups, 
        health care professionals, State and local or tribal government 
        agencies with expertise in the field of substance abuse, 
        including, if applicable, the single State authority for 
        substance abuse, and other organizations involved in reducing 
        substance abuse, and, if feasible, an elected official from 
        each of local or tribal, State, and the Federal Government.
            ``(3) Commitment.--A coalition shall also demonstrate that 
        its representatives have worked together on substance abuse 
        reduction initiatives for not less than six months through 
        entities such as task forces, subcommittees, or community 
        boards and shall demonstrate substantial participation from 
        volunteer leaders in the community, especially among 
        individuals involved with youth such as parents, teachers, 
        coaches, youth workers, and clergy.
            ``(4) Mission and strategies.--A coalition shall--
                    ``(A) have as its principal mission the reduction 
                of substance abuse in a comprehensive and long-term 
                fashion, with a primary focus on youth in the 
                community;
                    ``(B) describe and document the nature and extent 
                of the substance abuse problem in the community;
                    ``(C) provide a description of existing substance 
                abuse prevention and treatment programs and activities 
                and identify substance abuse program and service gaps 
                in the community;
                    ``(D) develop a strategic plan to reduce substance 
                abuse among youth in a comprehensive and long-term 
                fashion; and
                    ``(E) work to develop a consensus regarding the 
                priorities of the community to combat substance abuse 
                among youth.
            ``(5) Sustainability.--A coalition shall demonstrate that 
        it is an ongoing concern, by having a structure (such as a 
        501(c)(3) organization described in title 26, United States 
        Code or a division of an existing entity), non-Federal 
        financial support (including, within the discretion of the 
        Administrator, in-kind contributions), and a strategy to 
        identify and solicit substantial non-Federal funding sources to 
        ensure that the coalition and its programs are self-sustaining.
            ``(6) Accountability.--The coalition shall--
                    ``(A) establish a system approved by the 
                Administrator to measure and report outcomes consistent 
                with common indicators and evaluation protocols 
                established by the Administrator, in consultation with 
                the Advisory Commission;
                     ``(B) conduct an initial benchmark survey of drug 
                use among youth (or use local surveys or performance 
                measures already available or accessible in the 
                community) and conduct surveys (or incorporate existing 
                local surveys into its evaluation) to measure the 
                progress and effectiveness of the coalition on a 
                biennial basis; and
                    ``(C) provide assurances that the entity conducting 
                the evaluation, or upon which the coalition is relying 
                for its information, has experience in gathering data 
                related to substance abuse among youth or in evaluating 
                the effectiveness of community anti-drug coalitions.
    ``(b) Grant Amounts.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Grants.--The Administrator is authorized to 
                provide an amount not to exceed the amount of non-
                Federal funds raised by the coalition, including in-
                kind contributions, in any fiscal year and is 
                authorized to renew such grant awards annually for a 
                period not to exceed four years. Each such grant award 
                may not exceed $100,000 in any fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Coalition awards.--The Administrator is 
                authorized to make grants to not more than one eligible 
                coalition representing a community, except that the 
                Administrator has the discretion to make grants to more 
                than one eligible coalition in each community that has 
                a population that exceeds 2,000,000 people, except that 
                coalitions receiving such grants shall demonstrate that 
                they are collaborating with one another and have 
                independently met the requirements set forth in section 
                1022(a).
            ``(2) Rural coalition grants.--In order to stimulate the 
        development of coalitions in sparsely populated and rural areas 
        and to any tribal government, the Administrator is authorized 
        to provide grants, not to exceed $50,000 in any fiscal year, to 
        coalitions representing a county, a parish, a borough, or a 
        census area that has a population that does not exceed 30,000 
        people and is authorized to renew such grant awards annually 
        for a period not to exceed four years. The Administrator is 
        authorized to make grants to not more than one coalition 
        representing a county, a parish, a borough, or a census area.

``SEC. 1033. INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION WITH RESPECT TO 
              GRANTEES.

    ``(a) Coalition Information.--
            ``(1) General auditing authority.--The Administrator shall 
        have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any 
        books, documents, papers, and records that are pertinent to any 
        grant or grant renewal request under this title and may 
        periodically request information from a grantee to ensure that 
        the criteria set forth in section 1022(a) are being met.
            ``(2) Application process.--The Administrator shall issue 
        rules and regulations regarding the application process, grant 
        renewal, and suspension or withholding of any renewal grant 
        awards. All applications shall be in writing and shall be 
        subject to bona fide review by the Administrator initially and 
        upon renewal.
            ``(3) Reporting.--The Administrator shall make every 
        effort, consistent with existing law, to minimize reporting 
        requirements by a grantee and to expedite any grant renewal 
        requests.
    ``(b) Data Collection and Dissemination.--The Administrator may 
collect data from national substance abuse organizations working with 
coalitions, community anti-drug coalitions, departments or agencies of 
Federal, State and local or tribal governments and any other entity or 
organization whose activities relate to the purposes of the Program. 
The Administrator may evaluate the utility of specific initiatives, 
engage in research and development activities related to the Program, 
and disseminate such information to eligible coalitions, any other 
substance abuse organization, or the general public.

``SEC. 1034. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

    ``The Administrator may offer technical assistance and training, 
enter into contracts and cooperative agreements, and coordinate 
programs with any grantee or other organization. The Administrator may 
train any representatives designated by a grantee in coalition 
building, task force development, mediation and facilitation, direct 
service, assessment and evaluation or any other activity related to the 
purposes of the Program.

                  ``Subchapter II--Advisory Commission

``SEC. 1041. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the `Advisory Commission 
on Drug-Free Communities' (referred to in this chapter as the `Advisory 
Commission').
    ``(b) Purpose.--The President shall appoint members to the Advisory 
Commission pursuant to section 1043 to advise, consult with, and make 
recommendations to the Administrator concerning matters related to the 
activities carried out under the Program.

``SEC. 1042. DUTIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Advisory Commission--
            ``(1) shall, within 30 days after its first meeting, make 
        recommendations to the Director regarding the selection of an 
        Administrator;
            ``(2) may review any grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement proposed to be made by the Program;
            ``(3) may make recommendations to the Administrator 
        regarding the activities of the Program;
            ``(4) may review any policy or criteria established by the 
        Administrator to carry out the Program;
            ``(5) may collect, by correspondence or by personal 
        investigation, information as to initiatives, studies, 
        services, programs, or other activities of coalitions or 
        organizations working in the field of substance abuse in the 
        United States or any other country and, with the approval of 
        the Administrator, make such information available through 
        appropriate publications or otherwise for the benefit of 
        coalitions and for the general public; and
            ``(6) may appoint subcommittees and convene workshops and 
        conferences.
    ``(b) Recommendations.--If the Administrator rejects 
recommendations of the Advisory Commission, the Administrator shall 
notify the Advisory Commission and the Director in writing of the 
reasons for so doing not later than 15 days after receiving such 
recommendations.
    ``(c) Conflict of Interest.--A member of the Advisory Commission 
shall recuse himself or herself from any decision that would constitute 
a conflict of interest.

``SEC. 1043. MEMBERSHIP.

    ``(a) In General.--The President shall appoint 15 members to the 
Advisory Commission as follows:
            ``(1) Six members shall be appointed from the leading 
        representatives of national substance abuse reduction 
        organizations, of which at least four must have extensive 
        training or experience in drug prevention.
            ``(2) Six members shall be appointed from the general 
        public and shall include leaders in fields of youth 
        development, public policy, law, business, or private 
        foundations that fund substance abuse programs.
            ``(3) Three members shall be appointed from the leading 
        representatives of substance abuse reduction organizations in 
        the States.
    ``(b) Chairperson.--The Advisory Commission shall elect a 
chairperson or co-chairpersons from among its members.
    ``(c) Ex Officio Members.--The ex officio membership of the 
Advisory Commission shall consist of any two officers or employees of 
the United States as the Director determines necessary for the Advisory 
Commission to effectively carry out its functions.

``SEC. 1044. COMPENSATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Members of the Advisory Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall not receive any 
compensation for service on the Advisory Commission. The remaining 
members of the Advisory Commission shall receive, for each day 
(including travel time) they are engaged in the performance of the 
functions of the Advisory Commission, compensation at rates not to 
exceed the daily equivalent to the annual rate of basic pay payable for 
GS-10 of the General Schedule.
    ``(b) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Advisory Commission 
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code.

``SEC. 1045. TERMS OF OFFICE.

    ``(a) In General.--The term of office of a member of the Advisory 
Commission shall be three years, except that--
            ``(1) of the members first appointed under section 
        1043(a)(1), two shall be appointed for a term of two years, and 
        of the members first appointed under section 1043(a)(2), two 
        shall be appointed for a term of two years, and of the members 
        first appointed under section 1043(a)(3), one shall be 
        appointed for two years, as designated at the time of 
        appointment; and
            ``(2) any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an 
        unexpired term shall serve for the remainder of such term.
    ``(b) Vacancy.--A member of the Advisory Commission may serve after 
the expiration of such member's term until a successor has been 
appointed and taken office.

``SEC. 1046. MEETINGS.

    ``(a) In General.--After its initial meeting, the Advisory 
Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman or a majority of its 
members or upon the request of the Director or Administrator of the 
Program for which the Advisory Commission is established.
    ``(b) Quorum.--Eight members of the Advisory Commission shall 
constitute a quorum.

``SEC. 1047. STAFF.

    ``The Advisory Commission may elect its own executive secretary to 
facilitate the conduct of business. The Administrator shall make 
available to the Advisory Commission such staff, information, and other 
assistance permitted by law as it may reasonably require to carry out 
its functions.

``SEC. 1048. TERMINATION.

    ``The Advisory Commission shall terminate on the date that is five 
years after the date of the enactment of this chapter, except that the 
Advisory Commission shall be authorized to conduct its business only to 
the extent that amounts are appropriated to carry out the Program.''.
    (b) Reference.--Every reference in Federal law to subtitle A of the 
Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, with the exception of section 1001 of such 
subtitle, shall be deemed a reference to chapter 1 of the National 
Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988.
                                 <all>