Hartford — A bill originally intended to prohibit kids under age 16 from purchasing energy drinks was drastically amended on the House floor Thursday, sparking criticism from minority Republicans in an extended debate on the role of the legislature in the lives of Connecticut families.

State Rep. Liz Linehan, D-Cheshire, co-chairwoman of the legislative Committee on Children, presided over the 130-minute discussion in which some Republicans spoke in favor of the outright sales ban, and criticized Democrats for not including enough expert members on a so-called working group that would meet and make recommendations on the issue by this November.

After Republicans opposed an amended form of the bill in a solid 97-52 defeat, they offered an amendment of their own to strip away much of the legislation, including mandatory signage at places where energy drinks such as Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy are sold. Only two Democrats sided with Republicans and the amendment failed 94-55. A second GOP amendment, which would add members including leaders of the Children's Committee and the Public Health Committee as well as an athletic trainer, earned Linehan's endorsement and passed in a voice vote.

The final form of the bill passed 85-64 and next goes to the Senate.

Earlier in the week, Linehan introduced similar legislation on the House floor, but it was pulled from debate when it became clear that it would spark a protracted discussion. On Thursday, it became the first bill of the day, as Linehan explained that committee leaders wanted to hold off on a sales ban this year and allow the working group more time to delve into research sources on the issue.

At one point in a wide-ranging debate that included birth control, childhood vaccines and gender-affirmation surgery, House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, who owns a sports complex in his hometown, pointed to a new federal Environmental Protection Agency report, which finds that so-called crumb-rubber athletic fields do not have adverse public health risks, as warned in recent years by some Connecticut lawmakers, advocates, local school officials and parents. Candelora spoke in reaction to a statement Linehan made about alleged health dangers of artificial athletic fields.

When the bill reached the House floor just before noon on Thursday, Linehan said the current goal is to gather enough information for parents to make informed decisions. "This bill has gone through the committee process many times," she said, citing four years of testimony indicating the need to stop young teens from ingesting drinks that include at least 80 milligrams of caffeine and other ingredients per 9 fluid ounces. Members of the working group would include a pediatric physician.

Republicans including Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria of Seymour, an athletic trainer, and Rep. Christie Carpino of Cromwell pointed out the need to have more medical experts on the working group.

"We have an obligation as parents to be parents," said Carpino, a lawyer who was first elected to the House in 2010. Klarides-Ditria, in her fourth term, said she notices high school athletes who consume too many energy drinks can show symptoms including vomiting, higher heart rates, confusion and even loss of consciousness.

"What's the need for a study of something we already know?" asked Rep. Anne Dauphinais of Killingly, a ranking Republican member of the Children's Committee. "There are many studies out there."

"Why are we targeting energy drinks?" asked Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, a member of the Children's Committee. "There's a lot of data out there and a lot of different drinks are harmful?"

Linehan said that the idea for the bill originated from middle school students in Naugatuck after they researched many ingredients in energy drinks, and coming to the General Assembly with their concerns. Linehan noted that sharp increases in hospital emergency room visits have been linked with the ingestion of the beverages. "So the concern is that many people actually don't know what is exactly in those energy drinks," Linehan said. "Why don't they know? Because they're actually not regulated by the FDA. This is really a consumer education bill, so parents can make better choices on behalf of their children."

Mastrofrancesco, a conservative, pointed to state-mandated requirements such as childhood vaccinations to attend public schools and laws allowing minors to obtain birth control without parental knowledge. "We really need to be consistent in this chamber," she said. "The hypocrisy that I see in this chamber is really alarming."