A RESOLUTION creating the Commission on Psychiatric Medication of School-Age Children; and for other purposes.

H. R. No. 1079 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Stanley of the 50th, Stanley of the 49th, Jamieson of the 22nd, Sinkfield of the 57th, Felton of the 43rd and others

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Commission on Psychiatric Medication of School-Age Children; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, national medical reports indicate that psychiatric drugs are prescribed to between 5 million and 6 million children each year who represent about 10 percent of the total school-age population; and

WHEREAS, the International Narcotics Control Board of the World Health Organization has reported that the United States is among the leading users of psychiatric drugs and has warned us against our national trend to overprescribe stimulants for children.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Commission on Psychiatric Medication of School-Age Children. The commission shall be composed of 12 members. Four members of the House of Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and include a member of the House Committee on Children and Youth and a member of the House Committee on Health and Ecology. Four members of the Senate shall be appointed by the President of the Senate and include a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Four members shall be appointed by the Governor to represent state governmental services in the areas of health, human resources, children services, and education. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson who shall call all meetings and schedule the agenda of the commission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall undertake a study to investigate the use of psychiatric medications and their effects on school-age children of this state and to provide recommendations for improved oversight of the prescribed use of narcotics among Georgia's youth. The commission may conduct meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation; provided, however, that legislative members shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate and House of Representatives. In the event the commission makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such reports shall be made on or before December 1, 2000. The commission shall stand abolished on December 1, 2000.