WHEREAS, the number of school age children taking Ritalin has come under question lately; and

WHEREAS, questions have also arisen regarding how the Ritalin is being dispensed at home and at school; and

WHEREAS, the ADD and ADHD Task Force created during the 142^nd General Assembly made several suggestions regarding these disorders and their prescribed medications; and

WHEREAS, the most recommended action was to create a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is an electronic system in which pharmacies, as well as medical providers, enter prescription data into a centralized data bank; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is to enhance the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Justice offers funding to assist states interested in creating a prescription drug monitoring program;

WHEREAS, currently 22 states have Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, including Virginia.

WHEREAS, the ADD and ADHD Task Force did not address in their report Ritalin dispersal to school age children; and

WHEREAS, this issue needs to be studied for the benefit the school age children of Delaware.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 143^rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware that the Ritalin Tracking Task Force (RTTF) be created to study the pattern of Ritalin dispersal to school age children within the schools and homes of such children.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the RTTF shall be comprised of the following:

(1) Dr. W. Douglas Tynan, A.I. duPont Hospital for Children and the Delaware Psychological Association, who shall serve as Chair of the Task Force, or his designee, and Wendell Howell, Director of Addictions Coalition of Delaware, Inc., who shall serve as Co-Chair;

(2) One (1) member who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) The Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, or designee;

(4) A representative from the Medical Society of Delaware;

(5) The Director of the Division of Child Mental Health or designee;

(6) The Education Specialist for Health Services from the School Support Services Group within the Department of Education or designee and

(7) A Public Health Nurse from the Division of Public Health;

(8) The Superintendent of the Delaware State Police or designee;

(9) Two (2) secondary school principals;

(10) Two (2) elementary school principals;

(11) Dr. M. Perez, Vice President of Addictions Coalition of Delaware, Inc.;

(12) Three (3) members of the public who are parents of children currently taking Ritalin;

(13) Emmanuel Caulk, Jr., Principal, Newark High School;

(14) One (1) representative from the Department of Education to represent all school districts of Delaware who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Education; and

(15) One (1) representative from the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Addictions Coalition of Delaware, Inc., shall provide administrative support to the RTTF Task Force.

BE IT FURTHER RESVOLED that the RTTF shall organize and hold its first meeting not more than sixty (60) days following the date this Resolution is passed and shall submit a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on April 30, 2006.Typing here

SPONSOR:	Rep. Spence & Rep. Johnson & Rep. Keeley & Rep. Plant & Rep. Williams