HB 19-1120

Summary

Psychotherapy services - treatment of a minor without parental consent - mental health education resource bank - appropriation. The act allows a minor 12 years of age or older to seek and obtain psychotherapy services with or without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian if the mental health professional determines the minor is knowingly and voluntarily seeking the psychotherapy services and the psychotherapy services are clinically necessary. A mental health professional providing psychotherapy services to a minor may, with the consent of the minor, advise the minor's parent or legal guardian of the psychotherapy services provided, unless notifying the parent or legal guardian would be inappropriate or detrimental to the minor's care and treatment. However, the mental health professional is permitted to notify the minor's parent or legal guardian without the minor's consent if, in the opinion of the mental health professional, the minor is unable to manage his or her care or treatment. The mental health professional is required to engage the minor in a discussion about the importance of involving and notifying the minor's parent or legal guardian and document any attempt to contact the minor's parent or legal guardian. If a minor communicates a clear and imminent threat to commit suicide, the mental health professional is required to notify the minor's parent or legal guardian of the minor's suicidal ideation. The act requires the department of education, in consultation with the office of suicide prevention, the youth advisory council, and the suicide prevention commission, to create and maintain a mental health education literacy resource bank. The resource bank is available to the public free of charge. The act also requires the state board of education to adopt standards related to mental health, including suicide prevention. The act appropriates $116,550 from the general fund to the department of education for the mental health education resource bank and technical assistance. Specifies that certain provisions take effect only if House Bill 19-1172 becomes law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More

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