CS/CS/HB 203 Summary

• Defines "unaccompanied homeless youth" as individuals age 16 or older who meet federal McKinney-Vento Act criteria and are certified as homeless, identified by school liaisons, emergency shelter directors, runaway/homeless youth program directors, licensed clinical social workers, or circuit courts.

• Requires certification of unaccompanied homeless youth status through written certificates issued on official letterhead including the date of finding, section citation, and signature of the authorizing individual.

• Authorizes unaccompanied homeless youth to provide medical consent for themselves for medical, dental, psychological, substance abuse, and surgical diagnosis and treatment, including preventative care and facility-based care.

• Permits unaccompanied homeless youth to consent to forensic medical examinations for themselves and their children (if unmarried, parent, and has actual custody) for felony investigations under chapters 784, 787, 794, 800, and 827.

• Exempts unaccompanied homeless youth from prepaying court costs and fees when petitioning to remove disabilities of nonage; maintains all requirements of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act.

• Effective date: July 1, 2014.