What's happening
This bill directs the New York Department of Health to study the effects and diagnosis of medications for ADD and ADHD in school-age children.
Why it matters
Addresses growing concerns about overdiagnosis and medication. By examining the rising rates of ADD and ADHD diagnoses, the study could uncover whether children are being overdiagnosed or overmedicated, which is a significant worry for parents, educators, and health professionals.
Focuses on medication safety and side effects. The directive to study harmful side effects of commonly prescribed drugs—including psychostimulants and antidepressants—could lead to improved guidelines, safer prescribing practices, or new warnings for families and practitioners.
Examines diagnostic methods and fairness. By evaluating the appropriateness and effectiveness of diagnostic tools and looking into demographic disparities, the study could identify biases or gaps in care, potentially leading to more equitable diagnosis and treatment for all children.
Could influence future policy and school practices. The findings, once reported to top state officials, may shape future legislation, health department regulations, or educational system practices around mental health and medication use in schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study ADHD Drug Use
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.535
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study ADHD Drug Effects
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Latrice Walker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2599
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT authorizing and directing the department of health to do research and study as to the effects of psychostimulants, selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants and other drugs which are prescribed for attention deficit disorders, ADD and ADHD, for school age children
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 1. The commissioner of health, in conjunction with the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of developmental disabilities, and the commissioner of education is authorized and directed to conduct a study and do research as to the effect of psychostimulants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants and other drugs prescribed for attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the increasing rate of diagnosis of these conditions, in school age children.
2. The study shall be conducted in accordance with rules, regulations and standards determined by the commissioner of health, and the study shall concentrate on harmful side effects of such drugs, the appropriateness and effectiveness of tools and methods used to assess and diagnose the condition, the appropriateness of different medications, and any demographic disparities in diagnosis.
3. The commissioner of health shall report his or her findings to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate on or before two years from the date this act shall take effect.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05949-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing and directing the department of health to do research and study as to the effects of psychostimulants, selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants and other drugs which are prescribed for attention deficit disorders, ADD and ADHD, for school age children
Title of bill
An act authorizing and directing the department of health to do research and study as to the effects of psychostimulants, selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants and other drugs which are prescribed for attention deficit disorders, ADD and ADHD, for school age children
Purpose or general idea of the bill
To conduct a study on drugs prescribed for school-age children with ADD and ADHD, making recommendations thereafter.
Summary of specific provisions
Authorizes the commissioner of health, in conjunction with the commis- sioner of mental health, the commissioner of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and the commissioner of education to conduct a study and do research as to the effect of psycho stimulants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants and other drugs prescribed for ADD and ADHD, in school age children. The commissioner shall report his or her findings to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate within two years that this act shall take effect.
Justification
Currently 5 million school kids in America are on psychotropic drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at drug overdose deaths among children ages 15 to 19 over a 16-year period, from 1999 to 2015, and showed that from 1999 to the mid-2000s drug overdose deaths in this age group more than doubled from 1.6 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 4.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2007).
Kids are routinely being misdiagnosed and forced to take drugs for behavior problems, often containing violent side effects. This problem is becoming an epidemic with no end in sight. It is imperative that the commissioner DOH performs a study on the effects of medicating our school children, and making recommendations thereafter.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: s2193 - Referred to Health
2015-16: S.2761 - Referred to Health
2013-14: S.3100 - Referred to Health
2011-12: S.1172 - Referred to Health
2009-10: S.8202/A.5602 - Passed Both Houses, Vetoed Memo 6752
2008-09: A.5388 - Passed Assembly
2007-08: A.5388 - Passed Assembly 2006-07: A.5885A - Passed Assembly
2005-06: A.5885 - Health
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that if chap- ter 97 of the laws of 2016 shall not have taken effect on or before such date then section one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as such chapter of the laws of 2016.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.