The Utah Psychological Association applauds Gov. Jon Huntsman's decision to veto HB42 Medical Recommendations for Children (known in the media as the "Ritalin Bill").

We believe most parents want information and input about their children from all sources, particularly from schools where children spend so much of their time. Teachers are in a unique position to observe children and should be free to tell parents if they observe emotional or behavioral problems in students. They should also be free to share suggestions related to those observations. They should be free to suggest parents consult with the child's pediatrician or a psychologist or psychiatrist to obtain a professional opinion.

Such suggestions are non-binding on parents, and schools cannot require a student to seek or use a prescription medication as a condition of attending school. To prevent teachers from sharing their thoughts, observations and experience with parents is to deprive parents of crucial information. It is only with such information that parents can make informed decisions about their children's welfare.

Concerns about children being unnecessarily medicated or treated were being misattributed to teachers in HB42. Teachers neither write nor fill prescriptions for students. Parents are solely in charge of decisions regarding health-care treatment for their children. HB42 would have required teachers to edit what they could share with parents to the detriment of informed parental decision-making.

HB42 also interfered with another school benefit to parents and students: evaluation by school psychologists. With parental permission, school psychologists can evaluate academic, intellectual and mental health concerns of students. Results are then shared with parents and students, and a variety of intervention options are discussed.

However, HB42 would have required that no mental-health testing could be done without first providing parents with a copy of the tests to be used. Since the security of testing materials is required of psychologists by law, all testing would have been prevented. The inability to administer the qualifying tests would deprive many students of access to supportive programs. Again, the major effect would be to deprive parents of information about their children.

Huntsman was wise in vetoing HB42. He recognized the potential harm that could come from such a law and acted in the best interest of children.

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Chris Wehl writes here on behalf of the entire board of directors of the Utah Psychological Association.