Effective Substance Abuse Treatment Act

Summary

Effective Substance Abuse Treatment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to declare that the amendments made by this Act apply to each program that makes awards of Federal financial assistance to prevent or treat substance abuse. Allows, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization to be an award recipient, make subawards, provide services through vouchers, or accept vouchers for providing services. Makes religious organizations eligible on the same basis as any other nonprofit private organization. Prohibits Federal or State: (1) discrimination against an organization on the basis that the organization has a religious character; and (2) requirements that a religious organization, in order to be a program participant, remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols. Requires a religious organization to arrange for services through an alternative entity if an individual objects to the religious organization. Allows a religious organization to require a beneficiary who has elected to receive services from the organization to actively participate in religious practice, worship, and instruction. Prohibits using funds for sectarian worship or instruction, unless the beneficiary may choose where the assistance is redeemed or allocated. Declares that assistance to or on behalf of a beneficiary is aid to the beneficiary and not to the organization. Requires, if a State law or constitution would prevent the expenditure of State or local funds by religious organizations, that the Federal funds shall be segregated from State or other public funds. Requires, for personnel working in religious organization drug treatment programs, giving credit for religious education and training equivalent to credit given for secular course work. Mandates waiver of educational requirements if the religious organization has a record of successful drug treatment and the State or local government fails to demonstrate empirically that the educational qualifications are necessary.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 8 November 1997

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 8 November 1997

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12132-12133)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 8 November 1997

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 8 November 1977 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 8 November 1997

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 8 November 1977

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 8 November 1977

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Abraham, Spencer [R-MI] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Hutchinson, Tim [R-AR] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA] · R · Cosponsor
• · sshr00 · Standing

Related records

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