Amended in Senate May 5, 2015

Amended in Senate April 22, 2015

Amended in Senate March 23, 2015

Senate Bill No. 253

Introduced by Senator Monning

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Chiu)

( begin delete Coauthor: Senator end delete begin insert Coauthors: Senators end insert Beall begin insert and Leno end insert )

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Gatto)

February 18, 2015

An act to amend Section begin insert 4064.5 of the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Section end insert 369.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 253, as amended, Monning. Dependent children: psychotropic medication.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law authorizes only a juvenile court judicial officer to make orders regarding the administration of psychotropic medications for a dependent child 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 a child be based on a request from a physician, indicating the reasons for the request, a description of the child’s diagnosis and behavior, the expected results of the medication, and a description of any side effects of the medication.

This bill would require that an order authorizing the administration of psychotropic medications to a dependent child be granted only upon the demonstration of clear and convincing evidence that administration of the medication is in the best interest of the child and the court determines that specified requirements have been met, including a requirement that the prescribing physician confirms that he or she has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the child, as specified. The bill would prohibit the court from authorizing the administration of psychotropic medications to a child under other specified circumstances, unless a 2nd independent medical opinion is obtained from a child psychiatrist or a psychopharmacologist. The bill would prohibit the court from authorizing the administration of a psychotropic medication unless the court is provided documentation that appropriate screenings and tests for the child have been completed no more than 30 days prior to submission of the request to the court. The bill would impose additional requirements on the court to implement these provisions and to conduct review hearings, as specified. begin insert The bill would authorize psychotropic medication to be administered in an emergency without court authorization. The bill would require court authorization to be sought as soon as practical, but in no case more than 2 court days after emergency administration of the psychotropic medication. end insert The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt rules to implement these provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4064.5 of the end insert begin insert Business and Professions
Code end insert begin insert is amended to read: end insert

4064.5.  

(a) A pharmacist may dispense not more than a 90-day
supply of a dangerous drug other than a controlled substance
pursuant to a valid prescription that specifies an initial quantity of
less than a 90-day supply followed by periodic refills of that
amount if all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(1) The patient has completed an initial 30-day supply of the
dangerous drug.

(2) The total quantity of dosage units dispensed does not exceed
the total quantity of dosage units authorized by the prescriber on
the prescription, including refills.

(3) The prescriber has not specified on the prescription that
dispensing the prescription in an initial amount followed by
periodic refills is medically necessary.

(4) The pharmacist is exercising his or her professional
judgment.

(b) For purposes of this section, if the prescription continues
the same medication as previously dispensed in a 90-day supply,
the initial 30-day supply under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is
not required.

(c) A pharmacist dispensing an increased supply of a dangerous
drug pursuant to this section shall notify the prescriber of the
increase in the quantity of dosage units dispensed.

(d) In no case shall a pharmacist dispense a greater supply of a
dangerous drug pursuant to this section if the prescriber personally
indicates, either orally or in his or her own handwriting, “No
change to quantity,” or words of similar meaning. Nothing in this
subdivision shall prohibit a prescriber from checking a box on a
prescription marked “No change to quantity,” provided that the
prescriber personally initials the box or checkmark. To indicate
that an increased supply shall not be dispensed pursuant to this
section for an electronic data transmission prescription as defined
in subdivision (c) of Section 4040, a prescriber may indicate “No
change to quantity,” or words of similar meaning, in the
prescription as transmitted by electronic data, or may check a box
marked on the prescription “No change to quantity.” In either
instance, it shall not be required that the prohibition on an increased
supply be manually initialed by the prescriber.

(e) This section begin delete shall end delete begin insert does end insert not apply to psychotropic medication
or psychotropic drugs as described in begin delete subdivision (d) of end delete Section
369.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a health
care service plan, health insurer, workers’ compensation insurance
plan, pharmacy benefits manager, or any other person or entity,
including, but not limited to, a state program or state employer, to
provide coverage for a dangerous drug in a manner inconsistent
with a beneficiary’s plan benefit.

begin delete SECTION 1. end delete
begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

Section 369.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

369.5.  

(a) If a child is adjudged a dependent child of the court
under Section 300 and the child has been removed from the
physical custody of the parent under Section 361, only a juvenile
court judicial officer shall have authority to make orders regarding
the administration of psychotropic medications for that child. The
juvenile court may issue a specific order delegating this authority
to a parent upon making findings on the record that the parent
poses no danger to the child and has the capacity to authorize
psychotropic medications. Court authorization for the
administration of psychotropic medication shall be based on a
request from a physician, indicating the reasons for the request, a
description of the child’s diagnosis and behavior, the expected
results of the medication, and a description of any side effects of
the medication. On or before July 1, 2016, the Judicial Council
shall adopt rules of court and develop appropriate forms for
implementation of this section. Whenever the court authorizes the
administration of a psychotropic medication, it shall ensure that
the administration of the psychotropic medication is only one part
of a comprehensive treatment plan for the child that shall include
and specify the psychosocial services the child will receive in
addition to any authorized medication.

(b) (1) An order authorizing the administration of psychotropic
medications pursuant to this section shall only be granted on clear
and convincing evidence that administration of the medication is
in the best interest of the child based on a determination that the
anticipated benefits of the psychotropic medication outweigh the
short- and long-term risks associated with the medications. begin insert An
order authorizing the administration of psychotropic medication
pursuant to this section shall not be granted if the court determines
that the medication is being used as punishment, for the
convenience of staff, as a substitute for other less invasive
treatments, or in quantities or dosages that interfere with the
child’s treatment program. end insert

(2) An order authorizing the administration of psychotropic
medications pursuant to this section shall only be granted if the
court determines all of the following:

begin delete

(A) The medication is not being used as punishment, for the
convenience of staff, as a substitute for other, less invasive
treatments, or in quantities or dosages that interfere with the child’s
treatment program.

end delete begin delete

(B)

end delete

begin insert (A) end insert  The court is provided documentation confirming the child’s
caregiver has been informed, and the child has been informed in
an age and developmentally appropriate manner, about the
recommended medications, the anticipated benefits, the nature,
degree, duration, and probability of side effects and significant
risks commonly known by the medical profession, and of
psychosocial treatments to be considered concurrently with or as
an alternative to the medication.

(i) The documentation shall state that the child and the child’s
caregiver have been asked whether either have concerns regarding
the medication, and if so, shall describe the nature of those
concerns. The documentation shall confirm that the child has been
informed of the right to request a hearing pursuant to subdivision
(g).

(ii) The documentation shall include the written informed
consent of a child who is 14 years of age or older, after being
advised pursuant to this subparagraph.

begin delete

(C)

end delete

begin insert (B) end insert  The prescribing physician submitting the request for
psychotropic medication confirms that he or she conducted a
comprehensive examination of the child in compliance with Section
2242 of the Business and Professions Code and consistent with
the Psychiatric Evaluation and Diagnosis provisions included in
the Guidelines for the Use of Psychotropic Medication with
Children and Youth in Foster Care issued by the state, which takes
into account all of the following:

(i) The child’s trauma history.

(ii) The child’s medical records, including medication history.

(iii) Multiple sources of information, including, but not limited
to, the child, the child’s parents, relatives, teacher, caregiver or
caregivers, past prescribers of psychotropic medication, or other
health care providers.

begin delete

(D)

end delete

begin insert (C) end insert  The prescribing physician shall also confirm all of the
following:

(i) There are no less invasive and effective treatment options
available to meet the needs of the child.

(ii) The dosage or dosage range requested is appropriate for the
child.

(iii) The short- and long-term risks associated with the use of
psychotropic medications by the child does not outweigh the
reported benefits to the child.

(iv) All appropriate lab screenings, measurements, or tests for
the child have been completed in accordance with accepted medical
guidelines.

begin delete

(E)

end delete

begin insert (D) end insert  A plan is in place for regular monitoring of the child’s
medication and psychosocial treatment plan, the effectiveness of
the medication and psychosocial treatment, and any potential side
effects of the medication, by the physician in consultation with
the caregiver, mental health care provider, and others who have
contact with the child, as appropriate.

begin delete

(2)

end delete

begin insert (3) end insert  The person or entity submitting the request for authorization
of the administration of psychotropic medication shall bear the
burden of proof established in this section.

(c) A court shall not issue an order authorizing the administration
of psychotropic medications for a child unless a second
independent medical opinion is obtained from a child psychiatrist
or a psychopharmacologist if one or more of the following
circumstances exist:

(1) The request is for any class of psychotropic medication for
a child who is five years of age or younger.

(2) The request would result in the child being administered
three or more psychotropic medications concurrently.

(3) The request is for the concurrent administration of any two
drugs from the same class unless the request is for medication
tapering and replacement that is limited to no more than 30 days.

(4) The request is for a dosage that exceeds the amount
recommended for children.

(5) The request is for the administration of a psychotropic
medication that is subject to a federal Food and Drug
Administration black box warning requirement or is for the
administration of an antipsychotropoic medication for a use that
is not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for
children or adolescents.

(d) The court shall not authorize the administration of the
psychotropic medication unless the court is provided
documentation that all of the appropriate lab screenings,
measurements, or tests for the child have been completed in
accordance with accepted medical guidelines no more than 30 days
prior to submission of the request to the court.

(e) (1) No later than 60 days after the authorization of a new
psychotropic medication is granted or at the next review hearing
scheduled for the child pursuant to Section 366, 366.21, 366.22,
or 366.31, if scheduled no earlier than 45 days after the
authorization of a new psychotropic medication, the court shall
conduct a review hearing to determine all of the following:

(A) Whether the child is taking the medication or medications.

(B) Whether psychosocial services and other aspects of the
child’s treatment plan have been provided to the child.

(C) To what extent the symptoms for which the medication or
medications were authorized have been alleviated.

begin insert

(D) Whether more time is needed to evaluate the effectiveness
of the medication or medications.

end insert begin delete

(D)

end delete

begin insert (E) end insert  What, if any, adverse effects the child has suffered.

begin delete

(E)

end delete

begin insert (F) end insert  Any steps taken to address those effects.

begin delete

(F)

end delete

begin insert (G) end insert  The date or dates of followup visits with the prescribing
physician since the medication or medications were authorized.

begin delete

(G)

end delete

begin insert (H) end insert  Whether the appropriate followup laboratory screenings
have been performed and their findings.

(2) If based upon this review, the court determines that the
proffered benefits of the medication have not been demonstrated
or that the risks of the medication outweigh the benefits, the court
shall reconsider, modify, or revoke its authorization for the
administration of medication.

(f) (1) In counties in which the county child welfare agency
completes the request for authorization for the administration of
psychotropic medication, the agency is encouraged to complete
the request within three business days of receipt from the physician
of the information necessary to fully complete the request.

(2) Nothing in this subdivision is intended to change current
local practice or local court rules with respect to the preparation
and submission of requests for authorization for the administration
of psychotropic medication.

(g) Within seven court days from receipt by the court of a
completed request, the juvenile court judicial officer shall either
approve or deny in writing a request for authorization for the
administration of psychotropic medication to the child, or shall,
upon a request by the parent, the legal guardian, or the child’s
attorney, or upon its own motion, set the matter for hearing.

(h) Psychotropic medication or psychotropic drugs are those
medications administered for the purpose of affecting the central
nervous system to treat psychiatric disorders or illnesses. These
medications include, but are not limited to, anxiolytic agents,
antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications,
anti-Parkinson agents, hypnotics, medications for dementia, and
psychostimulants.

begin insert

(i) (1) Psychotropic medications may be administered without
court authorization in an emergency. An emergency exists if all
of the following conditions are met:

end insert begin insert

(A) A physician finds that the child requires psychotropic
medication to treat a psychiatric disorder or illness.

end insert begin insert

(B) The medication is immediately necessary for the preservation
of life or the prevention of serious bodily harm to the child or
others. It is not necessary for the harm to take place or become
unavoidable prior to treatment.

end insert begin insert

(C) It is impractical to obtain authorization from the court
before administering the psychotropic medication to the child.

end insert begin insert

(2) Court authorization shall be sought as soon as practical,
but in no case more than two court days after the emergency
administration of psychotropic medication.

end insert begin delete

(i)

end delete

begin insert (j) end insert  Nothing in this section is intended to supersede local court
rules regarding a minor’s right to participate in mental health
decisions.

begin delete

(j)

end delete

begin insert (k) end insert  This section shall not apply to nonminor dependents, as
defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.