Confusion continues to swirl around a legislative proposal that advocates say would inhibit teachers and parents talking about behavioral problems of students who may need mental-health treatment.

Sponsored by Rep. Michael Morley, R-Spanish Fork, HB42 was given preliminary approval on a 20-9 vote in the Senate on Monday but needs one more go-round of support for it to clear that chamber and await the governor's signature.

The measure, dubbed the "Ritalin bill" when it was introduced several years ago by another lawmaker, is intended to keep teachers from being "doctors" in the classroom and requiring children to take psychotropic medication as a condition of remaining in school.

Critics, however, say such prohibitions were set down in rule by the state Board of Education and the bill is redundant, unnecessarily perpetuating the stigma of mental illness.

Reading a letter from the Intermountain Pediatric Association, Sen. Patrice Arent, D-South Cottonwood, emphasized that early detection of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is critical for children and, if left untreated, can spawn severe consequences.

"These teachers see more children than I do, and they are around them all day," said Arent. "I would frankly want their input."

Supporters maintain there needs to be a hard line for parents to be parents and not suffer intimidation about a misbehaving child because of educational professionals.

In support of an amendment offered by a colleague, Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, said the bill "broadens the prohibition so teachers "can't sit across from a parent at the table and demand they feed their kids drugs."

While the bill does allow for intervention on behalf of the courts and the state Division of Child and Family Services, Sen. Greg Bell, R- Fruit Heights, said the threshold for intervention of "serious or imminent" risk to the child or others is too high.

"I think it goes too far," he said, adding that such a requirement for a court to even examine a parent's refusal to seek mental-health treatment smacks of labeling the justice system as bankrupt and not worthy of trust.

Senators also squabbled over the bill because of disagreement on how limited teachers or other school professionals will be in the classroom when it comes to communicating the possibility of a behavioral problem with a particular student.

Supporters said the communication can happen while opponents said the measure has a "chilling" effect on the teacher-parent relationship.

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E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com