(a) For purposes of this section, (1) “psychotropic drugs” means prescription medications for behavioral or social-emotional concerns, such as attentional deficits, impulsivity, anxiety, depression and thought disorders, and includes, but is not limited to, stimulant medication and antidepressants, and (2) “school health or mental health personnel” means school nurses or nurse practitioners appointed pursuant to section 10-212, school medical advisors appointed pursuant to section 10-205, school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors and such other school personnel who have been identified as the person responsible for communication with a parent or guardian about a child's need for medical evaluation pursuant to a policy adopted by a local or regional board of education as required by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Each local and regional board of education shall adopt and implement policies prohibiting any school personnel from recommending the use of psychotropic drugs for any child. Such policies shall set forth procedures (1) for communication between school health or mental health personnel and other school personnel about a child who may require a recommendation for a medical evaluation, (2) establishing the method in which school health or mental health personnel communicate a recommendation to a parent or guardian that such child be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner, and (3) for obtaining proper consent from a parent or guardian of a child for the school health or mental health personnel to communicate about such child with a medical practitioner outside the school who is not a school employee. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit (A) school health or mental health personnel from recommending that a child be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner, (B) school personnel from consulting with such practitioner with the consent of the parents or guardian of such child, (C) the planning and placement team from recommending a medical evaluation as part of an initial evaluation or reevaluation, as needed to determine a child's (i) eligibility for special education and related services, or (ii) educational needs for an individualized education program.
(P.A. 01-124, S. 1; P.A. 03-211, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 03-211 added new Subsec. (a) defining “psychotropic drugs” and “school health or mental health personnel”, designated existing provisions as Subsec. (b) and amended same to add procedures to be included in policies and provisions re planning and placement team, substitute “school health or mental health personnel” for “school medical staff” and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2003.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 169 - School Health and Sanitation
Section 10-203. - Compliance with public health statutes and regulations.
Section 10-203b. - Health Services Program Information Survey.
Section 10-203c. - Guidelines re comprehensive school counseling program.
Section 10-204. - Vaccination.
Section 10-204a. - Required immunizations. Temporary waiver.
Section 10-204b. - Rubella immunization.
Section 10-204c. - Immunity from liability.
Section 10-205. - Appointment of school medical advisors.
Section 10-206. - Health assessments.
Section 10-206a. - Free health assessments.
Section 10-206b. - Tests for lead levels in Head Start programs.
Section 10-206c. - Annual report on whether pupil has health insurance.
Section 10-206d. - Oral health assessments.
Section 10-207. - Duties of medical advisors.
Section 10-208. - Exemption from examination or treatment.
Section 10-208a. - Physical activity of student restricted; boards to honor notice.
Section 10-209. - Records not to be public. Provision of reports to schools.
Section 10-210. - Notice of disease to be given parent or guardian.
Section 10-211. - Notice to state board.
Section 10-211a. - Peer-to-peer mental health support program; development; training.
Section 10-211d. - Family care coordinator.
Section 10-211e. - Annual notice re Get Outside and Play for Children's Mental Health Day.
Section 10-212f. - School Nurse Advisory Council. Reports.
Section 10-212h. - Self-application of sunscreen by students.
Section 10-212k. - Provision of free menstrual products to students in grades three to twelve.
Section 10-212l. - Mental health plan for student athletes; development.
Section 10-212m. - Mental health plan for student athletes; implementation.
Section 10-213. - Dental hygienists.
Section 10-214a. - Eye-protective devices.
Section 10-214b. - Compliance report by local or regional board of education.
Section 10-215a. - Nonpublic school and nonprofit agency participation in feeding programs.
Section 10-215b. - Duties of State Board of Education re feeding programs.
Section 10-215c. - Annual report.
Section 10-215e. - Nutrition standards for food that is not part of lunch or breakfast program.
Section 10-215f. - Certification that food meets nutrition standards.
Section 10-215g. - In-classroom school breakfast pilot program.
Section 10-215h. - Child nutrition outreach program.
Section 10-215i. - Information and notice re supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Section 10-215k. - Submission of report re nonimplementation of Community Eligibility Provision.
Section 10-215l. - CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program.
Section 10-216. - Payment of expenses.
Section 10-217b. - Appropriation.
Section 10-217c. - Definitions.
Section 10-217d. - Warning labels.
Section 10-217e. - Purchase of art or craft materials by local or regional school districts.
Section 10-217g. - Exemptions.
Section 10-217h. - Connecticut School Health Survey; administration.
Section 10-217j. - Connecticut School Health Survey; policy and forms re notice.