HB232

What it does

• Allows minors age 16 or older to give their own consent for up to five outpatient behavioral or mental health appointments of 90 minutes each.
• Requires a provider and supervisor to decide if asking for parent consent would harm the minor before continuing treatment after five visits.
• Permits continued treatment without parent consent only if seeking it is harmful, such as in cases of abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse by parents, or if requiring consent causes the minor to reject services while they have the maturity to participate.
• Allows providers to continue treating a minor without parental consent for up to 60 days at a time if two attempts to contact parents fail and the parent cannot be reached.
• Prohibits providers from prescribing medication to these minors unless a parent or guardian gives consent.
• Removes the financial obligation for parents or guardians when services are provided under this new rule.