H-0391

AN ACT Relating to treatment of minors; and amending RCW 71.34.030.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 71.34.030 and 1985 c 354 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any minor thirteen years or older may request and receive outpatient treatment without the consent of the minor's parent. Parental authorization is required for outpatient treatment of a minor under the age of thirteen.

(2) When in the judgment of the professional person in charge of an evaluation and treatment facility there is reason to believe that a minor is in need of inpatient treatment because of a mental disorder, and the facility provides the type of evaluation and treatment needed by the minor, and it is not feasible to treat the minor in any less restrictive setting or the minor's home, the minor may be admitted to an evaluation and treatment facility in accordance with the following requirements:

(a) A minor under thirteen years of age may only be admitted on the application of the minor's parent.

(b) A minor thirteen years or older may be voluntarily admitted by application of the parent. Such application must be accompanied by the written consent, knowingly and voluntarily given, of the minor if the minor is fifteen years or older.

(c) A minor thirteen years or older may, with the concurrence of the professional person in charge of an evaluation and treatment facility, admit himself or herself without parental consent to the evaluation and treatment facility, provided that notice is given by the facility to the minor's parent in accordance with the following requirements:

(i) Notice of the minor's admission shall be in the form most likely to reach the parent within twenty-four hours of the minor's voluntary admission and shall advise the parent that the minor has been admitted to inpatient treatment; the location and telephone number of the facility providing such treatment; and the name of a professional person on the staff of the facility providing treatment who is designated to discuss the minor's need for inpatient treatment with the parent.

(ii) The minor shall be released to the parent at the parent's request for release unless the facility files a petition with the superior court of the county in which treatment is being provided setting forth the basis for the facility's belief that the minor is in need of inpatient treatment and that release would constitute a threat to the minor's health or safety.

(iii) The petition shall be signed by the professional person in charge of the facility or that person's designee.

(iv) The parent may apply to the court for separate counsel to represent the parent if the parent cannot afford counsel.

(v) There shall be a hearing on the petition, which shall be held within three judicial days from the filing of the petition.

(vi) The hearing shall be conducted by a judge, court commissioner, or licensed attorney designated by the superior court as a hearing officer for such hearing. The hearing may be held at the treatment facility.

(vii) At such hearing, the facility must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing that the minor is in need of inpatient treatment and that release would constitute a threat to the minor's health or safety. The hearing shall not be conducted using the rules of evidence, and the admission or exclusion of evidence sought to be presented shall be within the exercise of sound discretion by the judicial officer conducting the hearing.

(d) Written renewal of voluntary consent must be obtained from the applicant and the minor ((~~thirteen~~)) fifteen years or older no less than once every twelve months.

(e) The minor's need for continued inpatient treatments shall be reviewed and documented no less than every one hundred eighty days.

(3) A notice of intent to leave shall result in the following:

(a) Any minor under the age of thirteen must be discharged immediately upon written request of the parent.

(b) Any minor ((~~thirteen~~)) fifteen years or older voluntarily admitted may give notice of intent to leave at any time. The notice need not follow any specific form so long as it is written and the intent of the minor can be discerned.

(c) The staff member receiving the notice shall date it immediately, record its existence in the minor's clinical record, and send copies of it to the minor's attorney, if any, the county-designated mental health professional, and the parent.

(d) The professional person in charge of the evaluation and treatment facility shall discharge the minor, ((~~thirteen~~)) fifteen years or older, from the facility within twenty-four hours after receipt of the minor's notice of intent to leave, unless the county-designated mental health professional files a petition for initial detention within the time prescribed by this chapter.