At the core of this bill is the mental health screening of children by the government. Tennessee Democrats believe the government is the better parent.

From Bobbie Patray of Tn Eagle Forum

Folks, I need your help.

We are down to the wire with the bill to prohibit the universal mental health screening bill of children.
This bill has been passed three times in the Senate and defeated twice in the House. For the sake of our children, this year it must be different.

HB 1419 will be in the Public Health Subcommittee again on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. The present language of the bill makes if crystal clear that children will not undergo this screening without the ACTIVE, informed consent of their parents/guardians. Some on the committee want to change the bill to PASSIVE consent meaning that parents would be notified and consent would be assumed unless the parents said otherwise.

How would we know that the parents actually received the notice? Why would elected officials oppose the active, informed involvement of parents in an issue this important? Changing to a ‘passive’ consent instead of an ‘active’ consent is like passing a law that contains an ‘opt out’ (if you happen to find out that your child will be screened for mental health problems and if you happen to let the school know that you don’t want your child to participate, then the child would be excused) versus an ‘opt in’ (the parent must give written, informed consent prior to the child’s participation).

As you can see below, this bill does some other very important things. The Department of Mental Health, the Department of Children Services and the National Alliance on Mental Illness are satisfied with the bill’s provisions.

Basically this is about parental rights and equal protection.

ACTION ITEM: I need you as much as I have ever needed you. This bill has been passed three times in the Senate only to be defeated twice in the House. Please help me get the job done this time by calling (preferred) or emailing these committee members TODAY and POLITELY ask them to support please HB 1419 in it’s present form which protects parental and family rights.

Mary Pruitt, Chair – (615) 741-3853 – rep.mary.pruitt@legislature.state.tn.us
Lois Deberry – (615) 741-3830 – rep.lois.deberry@legislature.state.tn.us
JoAnne Favors – (615) 741-2702 – rep.joanne.favors@legislature.state.tn.us
Sherry Jones – (615) 741-2035 – rep.sherry.jones@legislature.state.tn.us
Jeanne Richardson – (615) 741-2010 – rep.jeanne.richardson@legislature.state.tn.us

HB 1419:

SECTION 1:

1. Prohibits AUTOMATIC screening of groups of juveniles.

2. Defines ‘psychotropic medication’.

3. Mental Health testing/screening in INDIVIDUAL cases may occur when a parent, guardian, legal custodian or caregiver has provided written, informed consent; a court requires such screening, in emergency situations, or as required by EPSDT.

4. Prohibits the LEA from using a parent’s refusal to consent to the administration of psychotropic medication or psychiatric screening, evaluation, etc., as grounds for prohibiting the children from attending class or from charging child abuse, neglect, etc.

5. Prohibits the LEA from coercing parents to submit child to medication or testing.

6. Defines the LEA personnel who may recommend evaluation, testing, or treatment.

7. Clarifies that written informed consent can be withdrawn at any time.

8. Clarifies that this legislation has no impact on the federal ‘Child Find System.’

9. Clarifies that this legislation DOES NOT prohibit an LEA employee from discussing a child’s behavior or academic progress with parents, guardian, or other school district employees.

10. Clarifies that this legislation DOES NOT prohibit referrals, counseling, etc., in event of emergency or crisis situations.

11. Clarifies that this legislation DOES NOT prohibit treatment, rehab or service plans for children in state custody or as required by federal law.

12. Requires that parent or guardian receive copies of state and federal laws that delineate their rights.

13. Requires local Board of Education to adopt appropriate policies and requires a report to the Department of Education.

Trust us, we’re from the government and we’re here to help take over your lives.

Technorati Tags: TN HB.1419, parental rights, TN Democrats, Public Health Committee, Nanny State

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