The so-called "Ritalin Bill" would block school officials from performing psychiatric or mental health evaluations on students, requiring that students take medications to control their behavior or recommend physicians without a parent's permission. Parents who decline medication or evaluations could not be turned in to the Division of Child and Family Services.
Spanish Fork Republican Rep. Mike Morley, the sponsor, could not cite any examples of children forced to take medication and acknowledged State School Board rules already prohibit schools from requiring drug treatment for disruptive students. Still, he said that rule should be turned into law.
"If a parent is not involved in the decision to administer these medications, we run a serious risk," Morley said. "Parents need to be able to visit with the teacher. There are ways this communication could be more appropriately handled."
Some lawmakers questioned whether the bill was legislation solving a nonexistent problem. During an hour of debate, legislators who are teachers, former teachers or are married to teachers repeatedly tried to amend the bill to limit restrictions on student behavior evaluations.
"We're overreaching here. This bill is an attempt to quash teachers' ability to communicate with parents," said Rep. Carol Moss, a Holladay Democrat and retired high school teacher.
"Most teachers go out of their way to be cautious when they describe behavior to parents, much less prescribe medication," said Moss. "Teachers want what's best for kids. This bill really stifles that communication and puts greater fear in teachers about bringing up issues that are sensitive."
But conservative lawmakers cast the bill as a nod to parental autonomy and voted 41 to 32 to send the bill to the Senate.
"What this bill does is put parental rights into policy," said Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem. Dayton pointed to financial incentives in the federal No Child Left Behind law "in favor of creating mental health clinics in our schools. We're getting into a whole new area of responsibility for the school that is not appropriate."
