00                            SENATE BILL NO. 208                                                                         
01 "An Act establishing the month of March as Sobriety Awareness Month."                                                   
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                          
04 to read:                                                                                                                
05 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT. (a) In establishing Sobriety Awareness                                                 
06 Month, it is the intent of the legislature to call attention to Alaskans who choose a positive                          
07 and healthy lifestyle by not consuming mood- or mind-altering substances, and who, by virtue                            
08 of their freely chosen lifestyle, serve as examples that life can be lived and enjoyed without                          
09 the consumption of mood- or mind-altering substances.                                                                   
10       (b)  The legislature finds that a life without the consumption of mood- or mind-                                  
11 altering substances                                                                                                     
12            (1)  improves the quality of life and the health of individuals, families, and                               
13 communities;                                                                                                            
14            (2)  reduces the incidence of alcohol- or drug-related social ills, including                                
15 crime, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect;                                                                  

01            (3)  reduces the burden on local, state, and federal treasuries that pay for the                             
02 pervasive social ills caused by alcohol and drug abuse;                                                                 
03            (4)  assists the state in identifying health benchmarks and measuring outcomes                               
04 associated with that lifestyle; those benchmarks and outcomes are monitored in the Healthy                              
05 Alaskans 2020 Health Assessment;                                                                                        
06            (5)  assists the state in complying with the declaration of policy under                                     
07 AS 47.37.010.                                                                                                           
08    * Sec. 2. AS 44.12 is amended by adding a new section to article 2 to read:                                        
09            Sec. 44.12.160. Sobriety Awareness Month. The month of March each year                                     
10 is established as Sobriety Awareness Month. Sobriety Awareness Month may be                                             
11 observed by schools, community groups, and other public and private agencies and                                        
12 individuals with appropriate activities that increase the public's awareness of                                         
13 prevention and treatment of alcoholism, drug abuse, and misuse of hazardous volatile                                    
14       materials and substances by inhalant abusers.