SF2234

Purpose

• To update Minnesota’s health education standards by adding specific topics, with a focus on overdose prevention, and to align these topics with existing statutes. The bill amends current law to require new or expanded expectations in health-related learning.

Required Health-Related Subject Areas (Main Provisions)

• The commissioner must include the following expectations for learning in the statewide health education standards, with districts allowed to provide instruction in accordance with applicable law:
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) education.
  • Vaping awareness and prevention education.
  • Cannabis use and substance use education that includes overdose recognition, prevention, and response education.
  • Sexually transmitted infections and diseases education.
  • Mental health education.

Grade Levels and Specific Topics

• CPR and AED education: for students in grades 7 through 12 (per Minnesota Statutes section 120B.236).
• Vaping awareness and prevention education: for students in grades 6 through 8 (per Minnesota Statutes section 120B.238, subdivision 3).
• Cannabis use and substance use education (including overdose recognition, prevention, and response): for students in grades 6 through 12 (per Minnesota Statutes section 120B.215).
• Sexually transmitted infections and diseases education: aligned with Minnesota Statutes section 121A.23 (grades 4 through 12).
• Mental health education: for students in grades 4 through 12.

Relationship to Existing Law

• This bill amends Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 2, section 21, subdivision 2 to specify these added health-education expectations.
• It references and aligns with the listed Minnesota Statutes (120B.236, 120B.238, 120B.215, 121A.23) to guide content and implementation.

Implementation and District Role

• Districts are authorized to provide instruction on these topics in accordance with the cited statutes.
• The changes are incorporated into the statewide health education standards used by school districts to guide curriculum and instruction.

Relevant changes to law in plain terms: - Adds overdose prevention components within cannabis/substance use education. - Broadens and clarifies required health topics across multiple grades. - Connects instruction to specific Minnesota statutes to ensure consistency with existing legal requirements.

Relevant Terms - overdose recognition - overdose prevention and response education - cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - automatic external defibrillator (AED) - vaping awareness and prevention - cannabis use education - substance use education - sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs) - mental health education - Minnesota Statutes section 120B.236 - Minnesota Statutes section 120B.238 (subdivision 3) - Minnesota Statutes section 120B.215 - Minnesota Statutes section 121A.23 - grades 4-12 - grades 6-8 - grades 7-12 - statewide health education standards - district instruction alignment