This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After more than an hour of debate, the Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would prohibit teachers from recommending that students take psychotropic drugs.
House Bill 42 - the so-called Ritalin bill - is now up for a final Senate vote after clearing the House two weeks ago.
Republicans rebuffed Democrats' attempts to loosen up the proposal and accepted only minor changes proposed by Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights.
Bell also tried to amend the bill to allow school psychologists to evaluate students "for the sole purpose of complying with federal law" but not because they believe students need evaluation.
"It's tying the hands of mental health professionals," Bell said. "It's not right."
That amendment failed.
Supporters argued that the measure includes a safety net by allowing court intervention in extreme cases.
