PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG USE ADVISORY COUNCIL
House Bill 4024
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Woronchak
Committee: Family and Children Services
Complete to 1-31-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4024 AS INTRODUCED 1-28-03
House Bill 4024 would amend the Public Health Code (MCL 333.2217) to create the Psychotropic Drug Use Advisory Council within the Department of Community Health. The council would be required to investigate, compile a report, recommend policies pertaining to psychotropic drug use among children, and submit its report to the legislature prior to January 1, 2004.
More specifically, under the bill, the council would be required to use the following information and issues as guidelines in formulating its report:
-relevant literature and current research, including professional practice guidelines;
-surveys conducted by the advisory council on the extent of behavioral disorders and the policies and treatments used in treating those disorders;
-the relationship between behavioral disorders and learning disabilities;
-similarities and differences between school district policies that deal with the recommended or mandated use of psychotropic drugs and their relationship to school attendance (under the bill, this review of policies would include general school policies, as well as special education policies);
-the pattern of psychotropic drug use among children over the past 25 years; and
-psychotropic drug use among children by age, gender, and school district.
House Bill 4024 specifies that the advisory council would have 11 members, appointed by the department. The members would include one representative from each of the following: the Department of Community Health; the Department of Consumer and Industry Services; the Department of Education; a licensed physician; a licensed child psychologist; a licensed child psychiatrist; a state-certified special education teacher; a school principal, and a school counselor. In addition, two parents would also be appointed to the council.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.