Mental health treatment for minors; parental notification required. (HB121)

Introduced By

Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge)

Progress

√
 Introduced
X
 Passed Committee
√
 Passed House
☐
 Passed Senate
☐
 Signed by Governor
☐
 Became Law

Description

Parental notification of minor's mental health treatment. Requires any state or local government employee providing mental health treatment to a minor to notify the minor's parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis of the provision of services within five days of the provision of services. Amends § 54.1-2969 (“Authority to consent to surgical and medical treatment of certain minors.”), of the Code of Virginia. View Full Text »

Status

02/21/2008: Failed to Pass in Committee
View Bill's History

Comments

Legal Aid Justice Center, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee - Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 A.M. - House Room D.

Posted 53 months ago.
Marsha Maines writes:

Couldn't tell if this applies to BOTH parents being notified. Non Custodial Parents have the RIGHT to know if their children are under mental health care too.

Posted 53 months ago.
Alison Hymes writes:

Teenagers under 18 who want their parents to know they are in therapy will tell them. Therapists and counselors who think that parents should be involved for reasons of safety or otherwise have an ethical obligation to involve parents already. What this bill does is discourage teenagers who need counseling or other mental health care and do not think their parents will agree to it or think their parents will punish them for seeking treatment from seeking mental health services at all. How is this helpful to the public, to teenagers or to anyone?

There are parents who do not believe in mental health services, such as Scientologists. Should their children be barred from receiving mental health services due to a bill like this?

Posted 53 months ago.