HB1266

House Bill 1266 authorizes minors aged 16 and older to consent to outpatient mental health services, including counseling for suicide prevention, chemical dependency, or abuse, without parental consent. It permits mental health professionals to treat qualifying minors without parental approval under specific circumstances and limits such treatment to six sessions or 30 days. The bill protects the privacy of the minor by preventing disclosure of services to parents unless the professional determines there is a substantial probability of harm to the minor or others. It shields parents from financial liability for these services unless they have explicitly consented to them. Furthermore, the bill mandates that health benefit plans cannot deny coverage for these services based solely on the minor's age. Finally, the legislation provides liability protection for mental health professionals, excluding cases of negligence or willful misconduct.