November 17, 2005 -- House Passes Bill to Prevent Schools from Requiring Medication

The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed by an overwhelming 407-to-12 vote a bill that forbids schools that receive federal funds from “requiring a child to obtain a prescription for a controlled substance or a psychotropic drug as a condition for attending school or receiving services.” The term “psychotropic drug” is defined as meaning any drug that is used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or is intended to have an altering effect on perception, emotion, or behavior. The bill specifies that it does not prevent teachers and other school personnel from “consulting or sharing classroom-based observations’ with parents or guardians regarding a student’s academic performance or behavior in the classroom or school, or regarding the need for evaluation for special education or related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The House-passed bill, H.R, 1790, now goes to the Senate for final approval. The legislation can be read and tracked on website http://thomas.loc.gov.