HB 2043 Summary

• Allows minors age 14 and older to consent to mental health treatment or counseling services from licensed mental health professionals or supervised unlicensed mental health professionals without parental or legal guardian consent, knowledge, or participation.

• Defines "mental health professional" as a person working under licensed supervision who is either enrolled in an accredited training program or has completed all licensing requirements except post-degree experience for licensure in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, psychology, psychiatry, or psychiatric nursing.

• Requires mental health professionals to notify covered entities that minor-initiated mental health services should not be disclosed to parents or guardians and prohibits billing parents or guardians for out-of-pocket costs related to nondisclosed services.

• Requires covered entities to maintain confidentiality of minor-initiated mental health treatment or counseling services and prohibit disclosure of billing information to parents or guardians upon notification from the mental health professional.

• Takes effect January 30, 2021.