Schools couldn't require or recommend that a student take psychotropic drugs under legislation that moved forward Wednesday -- a measure critics say is a solution in search of a problem.

Utah senators approved the bill 18-10, and it faces one more vote before approval. The bill has already passed the state House of Representatives.

Pitched as a parental rights bill, it would prohibit school personnel from recommending that a student take or continue to take drugs like Ritalin or antidepressants. Schools also couldn't advise parents to seek psychiatric or psychological treatments for their children or conduct their own evaluations.

Another section of the bill, however, says that school counselors or other mental health professionals "working within the school system" can recommend or conduct mental health screenings.

That conflict may need to be addressed, said Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem. He suggested amending the bill so that counselors can't recommend "specific" assessments and treatments.

Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Salt Lake City, meanwhile, said the entire proposal is being driven by the "false premise" that teachers are behind prescriptions of psychotropic drugs.

Doctors do that, she said, based on a set of accepted protocols. She cautioned her colleagues against making the debate a vote on "the pros and cons of medicating your child."

"That's really not the debate," she said. "The debate here is, 'Who communicatesfi' "

Input from parents and educators is needed when assessing a student with behavior problems, said Dr. Tom Metcalf, a pediatrician who opposes the bill.

The measure would impose a "state gag rule" on educators, who would "shut down" and not provide input about student behavior out of fear of violating the law, he said.

There are already state rules prohibiting teachers from making medical recommendations, he said, and school psychologists are always careful not to cross lines.

"I have never -- repeat, never -- had a teacher make a medical diagnosis or an ADHD diagnosis to me," Metcalf said. "This bill, while well intentioned ... is totally unnecessary."

Metcalf and Dr. Wendell Gibby, a neuroradiologist, spoke to senators under a special arrangement that allowed them to speak during floor debate.

Gibby said he was advised to put his son on Ritalin and antidepressants when the boy was in school, but he decided not to.

"He has done just fine," Gibby said. "He went on to become a fine young man.

"Doctors are heavily influenced heavily by the insistence of parents and by teachers, and it is very often that they are pushed into overprescribing medications.

"I'm not some kind of right-wing nut here."

Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, countered that it's irresponsible to suggest that doctors are carelessly prescribing powerful drugs willy-nilly.

"I have a very hard time believing that our medical community is being bullied by a teacher into prescribing these drugs for kids," McCoy said.

"I just don't believe that that's what's happening. And if that is what's happening, this isn't the bill to solve that problem."

The bill's Senate sponsor, Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, said he will consider the amendment suggested by Valentine.

HB 202 Medical Recommendations for Children, Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork

Prohibits school personnel from:

Recommending or requiring students to take or continue to take psychotropic medications

Recommending that parents seek or use psychiatric or psychological treatment

Conducting behavioral or mental health evaluations of a student, unless required to by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Using a parent's refusal to consent to these types of treatment or evaluation as a basis for a report to authorities.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A3.