HR1829: HR1829 Georgia schools and boards of education; adopt evidence-based discipline policies and procedures to address the public health crisis of student vape and e-cigarette use; urge

26 LC 112 3932 House Resolution 1829 By: Representative Au of the 50th A RESOLUTION Urging Georgia schools and boards of education to adopt evidence-based discipline policies1 and procedures to address the public health crisis of student vape and e-cigarette use; and for2 other purposes.3 WHEREAS, the adolescent use of e-cigarettes and vapes has become a national public health4 crisis, with the American Lung Association reporting that more than 2.1 million middle and5 high school students are currently using e-cigarettes, with a staggering 18.2 percent of high6 school students across the State of Georgia currently using e-cigarettes, more than double the7 nation's average; and8 WHEREAS, vaping exposes young people to nicotine and other harmful substances at a time9 when the brain is most at risk for addiction, and because the brain continues to develop until10 early adulthood, the use of any addictive substance prior to these years is especially risky;11 and12 WHEREAS, the House Study Committee on the Costs and Effects of Smoking found that13 e-cigarettes contribute to serious and negative health effects, and the Centers for Disease14 Control and Prevention confirms these include respiratory illne sses, asthma, ADHD, and15 H. R. 1829 - 1 - 26 LC 112 3932 other behavioral problems in youth, as well as withdrawal sympt oms when youth seek to16 quit; and17 WHEREAS, e-cigarette device use is the second leading disciplin ary incident in Georgia18 public schools according to the Georgia Office of Student Achie vement, and in more than19 50 percent of school vaping cases, children are suspended or expelled from school for long20 periods of time; and21 WHEREAS, research shows that suspensions of 10 days or more can cut students' likelihood22 of graduating in half and that children who do not graduate experience higher rates of chronic23 illness, homelessness, joblessness, and justice involvement, co sting the state millions of24 dollars in lost revenue and increased social services; and25 WHEREAS, the 2025 House Study Committee on Student Attendance r ecognized that26 chronic absenteeism is a "critical barrier to student achieveme nt, literacy, and long-term27 workforce readiness" and must be reduced; and28 WHEREAS, rather than zero tolerance approaches to student vapin g that have proven29 ineffective at stopping students from vaping or helping them recover from addiction, schools30 require evidence-based, health-focused alternatives to school suspensions and expulsions to31 combat the vaping crisis and protect student education, health, and wellbeing; and32 WHEREAS, schools may participate in the Georgia Department of Public Health's "Opt-Out33 Live Vape Free Program," in which a child caught vaping in school is given the opportunity34 to participate in a multipart education and cessation program as an alternative to suspension;35 and36 H. R. 1829 - 2 - 26 LC 112 3932 WHEREAS, schools may also take advantage of other free, effecti ve vaping education,37 cessation, and alternative-to-suspension programs, including th e Department of Public38 Health's Tobacco-Free Schools Toolkit, the American Lung Associ ation's INDEPTH and39 N-O-T for schools and students, and school-based behavioral hea lth services offered by40 Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' Apex and other41 programs.42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that43 the members of this body urge Georgia schools and boards of education to reject ineffective44 zero tolerance discipline approaches to student vaping in favor of alternative-to-suspension45 programs proven to help students stop vaping while remaining in school in safe and46 supportive learning environments.47 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized48 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the49 public and the press.50 H. R. 1829 - 3 -