(a) [Repealed, § 12 ch 42 SLA 1997.]

(b) A school district, municipality, nonprofit organization, local governing body of an established village, or community organization may file an application with the department for a community action against substance abuse grant. The application must include a description of the purpose for which grant funds will be used, goals to be achieved by the program or project, methods of measuring achievement of goals, a proposed budget, and statements of the need for and support of the proposed program or project.

(c) Community action against substance abuse grant funds awarded under this section may be used for

(1) Police-In-School Liaison programs staffed by officers that are certified by the Alaska Police Standards Council;

(2) technical assistance for neighborhood based substance abuse prevention or treatment programs;

(3) coordinators for court ordered community service;

(4) preventative or educational programs for youth that involve the community, parents, youth, and local schools;

(5) programs or projects that the department determines are effective in preventing or treating substance abuse at the community level;

(6) supervised youth recreation programs that focus on preventing or treating substance abuse; or

(7) youth assessment and referral programs that provide substance abuse screening services to and monitor compliance for a minor required to participate in an alcoholism or drug education or rehabilitation treatment program under AS 28.15.183 or before the minor's driver's license may be reinstated under AS 28.15.211.

(d) A proposed program or project that includes matching local funds or in-kind contributions shall have priority over a proposed program or project that does not include matching local funds or in-kind contributions. Grants awarded under this section are subject to the restrictions on use provided under AS 37.05.321.

(e) In addition to the priority given under (d) of this section, the department shall grant a priority to a proposed program or project under (c)(5) of this section if the proposed program or project provides prompt substance abuse treatment for a pregnant woman by advancing the woman on a waiting list for the program or project and by streamlining paperwork for admission of the woman to the program.

(f) In addition to the priorities given under (d) and (e) of this section, the department shall grant a priority to a proposed program or project under (c)(5) of this section if the proposed program or project

(1) creates alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders;

(2) provides rehabilitation services to prisoners who have substance abuse problems;

(3) measures and demonstrates a high rate of harm reduction for participants;

(4) is based on scientifically sound principles of prevention and treatment;

(5) provides job training or employment opportunities after completion of substance abuse treatment;

(6) provides youth treatment;

(7) focuses on drug and alcohol abuse prevention;

(8) addresses alcohol or substance abuse in targeted populations that have statistically higher incidences of alcohol or substance abuse problems; or

(9) addresses co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.

(g) The department may consider not funding a proposed program or project that has been previously funded under this section unless the applicant provides satisfactory evidence of success of the program or project.

(h) The department may not deny funding for a program under this section solely on the basis that the program relies on faith-based strategies so long as the strategies are effective for preventing or treating substance abuse.

(i) In this section,

(1) “established village” means an unincorporated community that is in

(A) the unorganized borough and that has 25 or more permanent residents; or

(B) an organized borough, has 25 or more permanent residents, and

(i) is on a road system and is located more than 50 miles outside the boundary limits of a unified municipality, or

(ii) is not on a road system and is located more than 15 miles outside the boundary limits of a unified municipality;

(2) “local governing body” has the meaning given in AS 04.21.080(b);

(3) “nonprofit organization” means an organization that qualifies for exemption from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or (4) (Internal Revenue Code).