This act may be cited as the "critical health problems education act".

     As used in this act:

    (a) "Critical health problems education program" means a systematic and integrated program designed to provide appropriate learning experiences based on scientific knowledge of the human organism as it functions within its environment and designed to favorably influence the health, understanding, attitudes and practices of the individual child which will enable him to adapt to changing health problems of our society. The program shall be designed to educate youth with regard to critical health problems and shall include, but not be limited to, the following topics as the basis for comprehensive education curricula in all elementary and secondary schools: drugs, narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, mental health, dental health, vision care, nutrition, disease prevention and control, accident prevention and related health and safety topics.

    (b) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of public instruction of the state department of education.

     A critical health problems education program is created in the state department of education. The superintendent is authorized to promote, support and conduct programs to carry out the purposes of this act. These programs shall include, but not be limited to:

    (a) Establishing guidelines to help local school districts develop comprehensive health education programs.

    (b) Establishing special inservice programs to provide professional preparation in health education for teachers throughout the state.

    (c) Providing leadership for institutions of higher education to develop and extend curricula in health education for professional preparation in both inservice and preservice programs.

    (d) Developing cooperative programs between school districts and institutions of higher education whereby the appropriate health personnel of such institutions would be available to guide the continuing professional preparation of teachers and the development of curricula for local programs.

    (e) Adding to the staff of the department of education competent specialists in the field of school health education to work with local school districts in the development of curricula and the preparation of teachers in health education.

    (f) Employing, on a contractual basis, authorities in health education to provide assistance to the department of education in its inservice programs for teachers.

    (g) Assisting in the development of plans and procedures for the evaluation of health education curricula and determining that a program of comprehensive health education is being carried out which meets the needs of the children and youth within the local school district.

    (1) The department of education may appoint an advisory committee from universities and colleges, the various fields of education, the voluntary health agencies, the department of public health, the department of mental health, the professional health associations and other groups or agencies it deems appropriate to advise it on the implementation of this act, including teachers, administrators and local boards of education.

    (2) The department of education shall cooperate with agencies of the federal government and receive and use federal funds for the purposes of this act.

     The department of education shall promulgate, prior to the effective date of this act, rules to implement this act in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 88 of the Public Acts of 1943, as amended, being sections 24.71 to 24.80 of the Compiled Laws of 1948, and subject to Act No. 197 of the Public Acts of 1952, as amended, being sections 24.101 to 24.110 of the Compiled Laws of 1948, but such rules shall not become effective until approved by concurrent resolution of the legislature.