H-4541.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2912

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Boldt and Clements)

Read first time 02/02/2000.  Referred to Committee on .

Requiring the department of social and health services to maintain records on children in state custody who are using psychiatric medications.

    AN ACT Relating to use of psychiatric medications by children in state custody; and adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Using information that the department collects in accordance with RCW 74.13.285, the department shall report to the appropriate legislative committees the following information:

    (a) The total number of children who are using or have used psychiatric medications or any other medications used for the purpose of modifying behavior;

    (b) A list of the names of the medications described in (a) of this subsection that the children use or used;

    (c) When the child began using the medication, if that information is available to the department; and

    (d) A breakdown by age group of the children and the percentage that the age group represents as being on the medications described in (a) of this subsection.

    (2) The department shall complete the report by December 15, 2000.

    (3) The report shall only contain nonidentifying information.

    (4) The report shall include recommendations by the department as to how the information contained in the report can be collected on all children who are in the custody of the state.

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