SB 48: "An Act relating to recommending or refusing psychotropic drugs or certain types of evaluations or treatments for children."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 48 01 "An Act relating to recommending or refusing psychotropic drugs or certain types of 02 evaluations or treatments for children." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 14.30 is amended by adding new sections to read: 05 Article 2A. Psychiatric and Behavioral 06 Evaluations and Treatments. 07 Sec. 14.30.171. Prohibited actions. Except as provided in AS 14.30.172 - 08 14.30.176, school personnel may not 09 (1) recommend to a parent or guardian that a child take or continue to 10 take a psychotropic drug as a condition for attending a public school; 11 (2) require that a child take or continue to take a psychotropic drug as a 12 condition for attending a public school; 13 (3) conduct a psychiatric or behavioral health evaluation of a child; 14 (4) recommend a specific licensed physician, psychologist, or other
01 health specialist to a parent or guardian for a child; 02 (5) recommend that a parent or guardian seek or use any of the 03 following: 04 (A) the administration of a psychotropic medication to a child; 05 (B) a psychiatric or psychological treatment for a child; or 06 (C) a psychiatric evaluation of a child; or 07 (6) make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities, 08 including the Department of Health and Social Services, based solely on the fact that a 09 parent or guardian refuses to consent to 10 (A) the administration of a psychotropic drug to a child; 11 (B) a psychiatric, psychological, or behavioral treatment of a 12 child; or 13 (C) a psychiatric or behavioral health evaluation of a child. 14 Sec. 14.30.172. Communication not prohibited. Nothing in AS 14.30.171 15 may be construed to prohibit school personnel from 16 (1) communicating information to other school personnel about a 17 child; 18 (2) exercising their authority relating to the placement within the 19 school or readmission of a child who may be or has been suspended or expelled for a 20 violation of a school disciplinary and safety program adopted under AS 14.33.110 - 21 14.33.140; or 22 (3) informing a child's parent or guardian of a perceived behavioral 23 problem of the child as long as the school personnel do not 24 (A) make an assertion or recommendation that violates 25 AS 14.30.171; or 26 (B) attempt to denigrate, criticize, or punish a parent, guardian, 27 or child for a decision made by the parent or guardian for the child to take, not 28 take, or discontinue to take a psychotropic drug. 29 Sec. 14.30.174. Compliance with federal education law. (a) 30 Notwithstanding AS 14.30.171(3) and (5), a mental health professional working 31 within a public school system may, for the sole purpose of complying with federal
01 education law, 02 (1) recommend, but not require, a psychiatric or behavioral health 03 evaluation of a child; 04 (2) recommend, but not require, psychiatric, psychological, or 05 behavioral treatment for a child; and 06 (3) conduct a psychiatric or behavioral health evaluation of a child 07 with the consent of the child's parent or guardian. 08 (b) In this section, 09 (1) "federal education law" means 20 U.S.C. 1400 - 1487 (Individuals 10 with Disabilities Education Act), 20 U.S.C. 7101 - 7143 (Safe and Drug-Free Schools 11 and Communities Act of 1994), 29 U.S.C. 794 (nondiscrimination under federal grants 12 and programs), and 42 U.S.C. 12101 - 12213 (equal opportunity for individuals with 13 disabilities); 14 (2) "mental health professional" has the meaning given in 15 AS 47.30.915. 16 Sec. 14.30.176. List of community resources. Notwithstanding 17 AS 14.30.171(4), a school district may make available to an interested parent or 18 guardian a list of community resources, including mental health services if the list 19 conspicuously states the following: "This list is provided as a resource to you. The 20 school neither recommends nor requires that you use this list or any of the services 21 provided by individuals or entities on the list. It is for you to decide what services, if 22 any, to use and from whom you wish to obtain them." 23 Sec. 14.30.177. Violations. (a) A violation of AS 14.30.171 - 14.30.176 24 constitutes substantial noncompliance with a school law of the state for purposes of 25 dismissal of a teacher under AS 14.20.170 or nonretention of a teacher under 26 AS 14.20.175. 27 (b) Each school board shall adopt a bylaw under AS 14.14.100 that provides 28 that violation of AS 14.30.171 - 14.30.176 is grounds for disciplinary action against a 29 person employed by the school district. 30 Sec. 14.30.179. Definition. In AS 14.30.171 - 14.30.179, "public school" 31 means a school operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials in which the
01 program and activities are under the control of those officials and that is supported by 02 public funds. 03 * Sec. 2. AS 47.10.019 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 47.10.019. Limitations on determinations. (a) Notwithstanding other 05 provisions of this chapter, the court may not find a minor to be a child in need of aid 06 under this chapter solely on the basis that the child's family is poor, lacks adequate 07 housing, or exhibits a lifestyle that is different from the generally accepted lifestyle 08 standard of the community where the family lives. However, this subsection 09 [SECTION] may not be construed to prevent a court from finding that a child is in 10 need of aid if the child has been subjected to conduct or conditions described in 11 AS 47.10.011 - 47.10.015. 12 * Sec. 3. AS 47.10.019 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 13 (b) Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, a court may not find a 14 minor to be a child in need of aid and the department may not initiate an investigation 15 or take custody of a child, including emergency custody, solely based on an allegation 16 or finding that the child's parent or other person having the care and custody of the 17 child has refused to consent to 18 (1) the administration of a psychotropic drug to the child; 19 (2) a psychiatric, psychological, or behavioral treatment for the child; 20 or 21 (3) a psychiatric or behavioral health evaluation of the child.