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2002 SESSION

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HB 754 Policies regarding medication recommendations by school personnel.

Introduced by: Kristen J. Amundson | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Policies regarding medication recommendations by school personnel. Requires local school boards to develop and implement policies prohibiting school personnel from recommending the use of psychotropic medications for any student. The policies will not prohibit school health staff from recommending that a student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner, or prohibit school personnel from consulting with such practitioner, with the written consent of the student's parent. "Psychotropic medications" is defined as those medications the prescribed intention of which is to alter mental activity or state, including, but not limited to, antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic medication and behavior-altering medication. Medications such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Paxil (paroxetine) would be included in this classification.

This summer, Connecticut enacted legislation directing local boards to adopt policies prohibiting school personnel from recommending the use of psychotropic drugs for a student. Similarly, Minnesota has recently adopted a statute prohibiting conditioning readmission to school following suspension or expulsion conditioned on use of these medications. The statute also provides that parental refusal to provide the child with "sympathomimetic medications does not constitute educational neglect." Related legislation has also been considered in Arizona, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon.


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