Article 3. Mental Health Services For Minors of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 106. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 3.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Mental health treatment or counseling services" means the
provision of outpatient mental health treatment or counseling by a
professional person, as defined in paragraph (2).
(2) "Professional person" means any of the following:
(A) A person designated as a mental health professional in
Sections 622 to 626, inclusive, of Title 9 of the California Code of
Regulations.
(B) A marriage and family therapist, as defined in Chapter 13
(commencing with Section 4980) of Division 2 of the Business and
Professions Code.
(C) A licensed educational psychologist, as defined in Chapter
13.5 (commencing with Section 4989.10) of Division 2 of the Business
and Professions Code.
(D) A credentialed school psychologist, as described in Section
49424 of the Education Code.
(E) A clinical psychologist, as defined in Section 1316.5 of the
Health and Safety Code.
(F) A licensed clinical social worker, as defined in Chapter 14
(commencing with Section 4991) of Division 2 of the Business and
Professions Code.
(G) A person registered as a marriage and family therapist intern,
as defined in Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 4980) of Division
2 of the Business and Professions Code, while working under the
supervision of a licensed professional specified in subdivision (g)
of Section 4980.03 of the Business and Professions Code.
(H) A board certified, or board eligible, psychiatrist.
(I) A licensed professional clinical counselor, as defined in
Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 4999.10) of Division 2 of the
Business and Professions Code.
(J) A person registered as a clinical counselor intern, as defined
in Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 4999.10) of Division 2 of the
Business and Professions Code, while working under the supervision
of a licensed professional specified in subdivision (h) of Section
4999.12 of the Business and Professions Code.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a minor
who is 12 years of age or older may consent to mental health
treatment or counseling services if, in the opinion of the attending
professional person, the minor is mature enough to participate
intelligently in the mental health treatment or counseling services.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the
mental health treatment or counseling of a minor authorized by this
section shall include involvement of the minor's parent or guardian,
unless the professional person who is treating or counseling the
minor, after consulting with the minor, determines that the
involvement would be inappropriate. The professional person who is
treating or counseling the minor shall state in the client record
whether and when the person attempted to contact the minor's parent
or guardian, and whether the attempt to contact was successful or
unsuccessful, or the reason why, in the professional person's
opinion, it would be inappropriate to contact the minor's parent or
guardian.
(d) The minor's parent or guardian is not liable for payment for
mental health treatment or counseling services provided pursuant to
this section unless the parent or guardian participates in the mental
health treatment or counseling, and then only for services rendered
with the participation of the parent or guardian.
(e) This section does not authorize a minor to receive convulsive
therapy or psychosurgery, as defined in subdivisions (f) and (g) of
Section 5325 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or psychotropic
drugs without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian.