A bill in the New Jersey State Senate is looking to lower the age minors would be able to consent to certain outpatient mental or behavioral health treatments without parental approval, the New Jersey Monitor reported Feb. 21.
Current state law allows people 16 and up to obtain these services without parental consent, and the new bill would lower the age to 14. The age is the only thing the bill would change about the current law, which currently bars healthcare professionals from dispensing or administering medications to minors without parental consent.
The bill is sponsored by Sens. Joe Vitale and Raj Mukherji.