Jonathan Newman introduced House Bill 172 during the middle of March. The new legislation, if passed, would prohibit minors from being able to obtain mental health service without consent of their parents or guardians.
Different states have different rules regarding age-of-consent for minors or parental consent regarding both outpatient and inpatient treatment for therapy. However, there are some states, like Alabama, Colorado, and California, that allow minors over the age of 12 to grant consent to such treatment.
John Stover, president of Ohio Value Voters, commented on the introduced legislation.
"This legislation would repeal higher revised code section 5122.04 in its entirety. And that's what Ohio Values Voters is working towards," informs Stover.
Section 5122.04, according to the Ohio Lows & Administrative Rules, allow minors from fourteen to older to receive outpatient services from mental health professionals without the consent or knowledge of the minor’s parents or guardians. The only exception was if the professional deemed that harm could come to the minor or others.
Stover says House Bill 172 would ban a mental health professional from treating a minor for a gender-related issue without the consent of at least one parent.
In a press release from Ohio Value Voters showing support for House Bill 172, Stover stated that no parent should be withheld information regarding their child’s mental health.
So far, the only problem Stover sees is with the governor.
"Where I do have some concerns, potentially, is with the governor's office and if he was to veto this bill," Stover reveals.
In the unlikely event that Gov. Mike DeWine would veto the bill, Stover says Ohio Values Voters would need to look for a super majority in both the House and the Senate to override the veto.
