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SB-543 Minors: consent to mental health services.(2009-2010)

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SB543:v91#DOCUMENT

Senate Bill No. 543
CHAPTER 503

An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 124260) to Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 14029.8 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.

[ Approved by Governor  September 29, 2010. Filed with Secretary of State  September 29, 2010. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 543, Leno. Minors: consent to mental health services.
Existing law authorizes a minor who is 12 years of age or older to consent to mental health treatment or counseling, except as specified, on an outpatient basis, or to residential shelter services, if specified conditions are met.
This bill would, notwithstanding any provision of law, instead, provide that a minor who is 12 years of age or older may consent to outpatient mental health services, if, in the opinion of the professional person, as defined, the minor is mature enough to participate intelligently in the mental health treatment or counseling services. The bill would expand the definition of a professional person to include a licensed clinical social worker, as specified, and a board certified or board eligible psychiatrist.
Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions.
This bill would provide that the above mental health services will not apply to the receipt of benefits under the Medi-Cal program.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Article 3 (commencing with Section 124260) is added to Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Article  3. Mental Health Services for Minors

124260.
 (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Mental health treatment or counseling services” means the provision of outpatient mental health treatment or counseling by a professional person, as defined in paragraph (2).
(2) “Professional person” means any of the following:
(A) A person designated as a mental health professional in Sections 622 to 626, inclusive, of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.
(B) A marriage and family therapist as defined in Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 4980) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(C) A licensed educational psychologist as defined in Chapter 13.5 (commencing with Section 4989.10) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(D) A credentialed school psychologist as described in Section 49424 of the Education Code.
(E) A clinical psychologist as defined in Section 1316.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(F) A licensed clinical social worker as defined in Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 4991) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(G) A marriage and family therapist registered intern, as defined in Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 4980) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, while working under the supervision of a licensed professional specified in subdivision (f) of Section 4980.40 of the Business and Professions Code as that subdivision read on January 1, 2003.
(H) A board certified, or board eligible, psychiatrist.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a minor who is 12 years of age or older may consent to mental health treatment or counseling services if, in the opinion of the attending professional person, the minor is mature enough to participate intelligently in the mental health treatment or counseling services.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the mental health treatment or counseling of a minor authorized by this section shall include involvement of the minor’s parent or guardian, unless the professional person who is treating or counseling the minor, after consulting with the minor, determines that the involvement would be inappropriate. The professional person who is treating or counseling the minor shall state in the client record whether and when the person attempted to contact the minor’s parent or guardian, and whether the attempt to contact was successful or unsuccessful, or the reason why, in the professional person’s opinion, it would be inappropriate to contact the minor’s parent or guardian.
(d) The minor’s parent or guardian is not liable for payment for mental health treatment or counseling services provided pursuant to this section unless the parent or guardian participates in the mental health treatment or counseling, and then only for services rendered with the participation of the parent or guardian.
(e) This section does not authorize a minor to receive convulsive therapy or psychosurgery as defined in subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 5325 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or psychotropic drugs without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian.

SEC. 2.

 Section 14029.8 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

14029.8.
 Section 124260 of the Health and Safety Code shall not apply to the receipt of benefits under the Medi-Cal program.