FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1612

C 107 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Requiring notification to parents of mental health treatment options for a minor child.

Sponsors: By Representatives Hinkle, Dickerson, Delvin, Carrell, Pettigrew, Upthegrove, Eickmeyer, Edwards and Kessler.

House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law

Senate Committee on Children & Family Services & Corrections

Background:

Under the common law, only parents have authority to consent to various forms of treatment for their children. In Washington, the common law parental authority has been modified by statute to give the minor child authority to consent to treatment in some situations. The common law has also been modified by statute to provide for specific procedures that parents and providers must follow when providing mental health treatment to minors.

Parents seeking mental health treatment for their minor children in Washington are not provided with any uniform materials informing them of the treatment options available, or procedures to follow, to obtain mental health treatment for their children.

Summary:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to produce, and make available, a written document explaining the statutorily available options for mental health treatment of a minor and the procedures to follow to utilize the treatment options.

If a parent seeks to have his or her child treated at a mental health evaluation and treatment facility, the facility must provide written and verbal notice to the parents of the statutorily available options for mental health treatment of a minor and the procedures to follow to utilize the treatment options.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 95  0

Senate 49  0

Effective: July 27, 2003