BILL NUMBER: SB 238	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senators Mitchell and Beall
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Chiu)

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2015

   An act relating to foster care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 238, as introduced, Mitchell. Foster care: psychotropic
medication.
   Existing law authorizes only a juvenile court judicial officer to
make orders regarding the administration of psychotropic medications
for a dependent child or a ward who has been removed from the
physical custody of his or her parent. Existing law requires the
court authorization for the administration of psychotropic medication
to be based on a request from a physician, indicating the reasons
for the request, a description of the child's or ward's diagnosis and
behavior, the expected results of the medication, and a description
of any side effects of the medication. Existing law requires the
officer to approve or deny the request for authorization to
administer psychotropic medication, or set the matter for hearing, as
specified, within 7 court days.
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would improve the ability of the child welfare
system to track and oversee the use of psychotropic medications for
children in foster care by requiring, among other things, the
development of a system that triggers an alert to medical
practitioners treating children in foster care when there could be
potentially dangerous interactions between psychotropic medications
and other prescribed medications, or when psychotropic medications
have been prescribed, or prescribed in dosages, that are unusual for
a child or a child of that age.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would improve the ability of the child welfare
system to track and oversee the use of psychotropic medications for
children in foster care. In order to effectuate this intent, the
legislation shall require all of the following:
   (a) The State Department of Social Services and the State
Department of Health Care Services to develop monthly data reports
that match prescription and claims data with child welfare services
records and that are shared with counties, the juvenile court,
attorneys appointed to represent children in foster care, medical
practitioners treating children in foster care, and court-appointed
special advocates.
   (b) The development of a system that triggers an alert to medical
practitioners treating children in foster care when there could be
potentially dangerous interactions between psychotropic medications
and other prescribed medications, or when psychotropic medications
have been prescribed, or prescribed in dosages, that are unusual for
a child or a child of that age.
   (c) An update of the JV-220 court form to provide an opportunity
for key stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the child for
whom psychotropic medication is prescribed, to provide information
and feedback and to provide details on the overall mental health
treatment plan for the child.
   (d) Training for medical practitioners, child welfare social
workers, foster children, caregivers, attorneys appointed to
represent children in foster care, and Court-Appointed Special
Advocates regarding psychotropic medications.