Re: AB 681 - Foster Children, Psychotropic Drugs

Thank you! I support this bill investigating psychotropic meds administered to foster children. As you may know, drug experimentation on her son is one reason why Diane Booth took her son from a state care facility in Santa Clara County and fled for safety to Canada. It is of great concern to many people that her son, Vincent Booth, be safe from social services experimentations on children. Please investigate the Eastfield Ming Quong center if possible!!

Recently Ms. Booth started a petition to the UNITED NATIONS regarding the rights of parents and children. I support this effort 100% and hope you will look into the issues she brings forth in this document, which is gaining international attention and popularity. The petition can be found at my website at http://www.geocities.com/clearwater19/cws -- while you're there, please have a look at the featured link: "A Call For Change" by Joseph Sarandos of Visalia.

Thank you,
Linda J. Martin

Still waiting for a response.

BILL NUMBER: AB 681
AMENDED
BILL TEXT

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 18, 2001
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2001

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mountjoy

FEBRUARY 22, 2001

An act to add Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 123660) to
Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to children in foster care.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 681, as amended, Mountjoy. Foster care: psychotropic medication.

Existing law makes provision for the placement of certain children in foster care, and provides for child welfare services, which are public social services directed toward, among other purposes, protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, including those in foster care placement.

This bill would make findings regarding the use of psychotropic medication prescribed to address psychiatric or behavioral issues of children in foster care.

This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to conduct a study of the administration of psychotropic medications to children in foster care in certain counties .

This bill would also require the department to provide the results of the study to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature on or before July 1, 2004 2003.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that:

(1) Concerns have been raised that some children in foster care who have emotional or behavioral problems are being excessively medicated. receive too much psychotropic medication, while others are not receiving needed psychotropic medication.

(2) Little information exists as to the incidence and level of use, among children in foster care, of medications for mental or behavioral disorders, and the relationship between the use of medications and the existence of mental or behavioral disorders.

(b) It is the intention of the Legislature to do both of the following:

(1) Enact legislation to require the State Department of Social Services to provide the Legislature with information on the current pattern of use of psychotropic medications by children in foster care , in comparison to the pattern of use of those medications among children in the general population.

(2) Encourage institutions of the University of California and California State University to conduct research into possible correlations between the use of medications for mental and behavioral disorders and physical health, mental health, educational outcomes, general social functioning, and contacts between children in foster care who have been prescribed psychotropic medication and the justice system or child protective services.

SEC. 2. Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 123660) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

Article 1.5. Medication of Children in Foster Care

123660. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall conduct a study of the administration of psychotropic medications to children in foster care. The study shall be limited to foster youth in Napa, Orange, Santa Clara, and Stanislaus Counties.

(b) For the purpose of this section, "psychotropic section:

(1) "Psychotropic medication" means a medication administered for the purpose of affecting the central nervous system to treat psychiatric disorders or illnesses. These medications include, but are not limited to, anxiolytic agents, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, anti-Parkinson agents, hypnotics, medications for dementia, and psychostimulants.

(2) "Foster youth" and "foster children" mean any person in foster care.

(c) The study required by this section shall include all of the following information:

(1) The number, types, and frequency of psychotropic medications prescribed to foster youth.

(2) The medical diagnoses of foster children receiving psychotropic medication.

(3) The number of foster children receiving psychotropic medication.

(4) The number of foster children receiving multiple prescriptions for psychotropic medications.

(5) The number of foster children who began receiving psychotropic medication after entering foster care.

(6) The number of foster youth receiving mental health assessments and treatment services.

(7) The number of foster youth with a diagnosis that meets criteria for which there is a clinical consensus that medication treatment is an acceptable component of care.

(8) Whether the use of psychotropic medication treatment was effective for foster youth who received such medication.

(9) Whether foster youth who received psychotropic medication experienced side effects.

(10) Whether foster youth receiving psychotropic medication received ongoing health and mental health treatment.

(11) The following information concerning a comparison group of young people in the general population:

(A) The number, type, and frequency of psychotropic medications prescribed.

(B) The medical diagnoses of youth receiving psychotropic medication.

(C) The number of youth receiving psychotropic medication.

(D) The number of youth receiving multiple prescriptions for psychotropic medications.

(E) The number of youth receiving mental health assessments and treatment services.

(d) The department shall, on or before July 1, 2004 2003 , provide the results of the study to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature.