House approves bill to codify parental involvement in school medical recommendations after lengthy debate

The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 7 passed First Substitute House Bill 42, titled “Medical recommendations for children,” after several hours of debate over the limits school personnel should face when discussing or recommending psychotropic medication or mental-health evaluations for students.

Rep. Jason Morley, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure was meant to ‘‘codify the intent of the current rules’’ and to close what he described as a loophole in existing policy. He told colleagues that rules could change easily and that the Legislature should make explicit the requirement for parental involvement when psychotropic medication or intensive mental-health assessments are at issue.

‘‘I am convinced, however, that the rule does not go far enough,’’ Morley said in his presentation, arguing that codification would better protect parents and children while still allowing school professionals to act when a child’s safety is at imminent risk.

Rep. Richard Mascaro offered an amendment to narrow language around…