Giving Their Own Consent: Bill Would Allow NJ Minors to Self-Approve Mental Health Care

Minors in New Jersey may soon be able to seek mental health care… whether their parents know about it or not.

On Monday, the New Jersey State Senate unanimously passed A-3435, also known as the “Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law.”

The bill gives minors the ability to provide their own consent for behavioral health care, including mental illness and emotional disorders.

Additionally, treatment would be considered confidential information between the health care provider and the patient.

According to the bill’s synopsis, it was designated as the “Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone Law” in honor of the members of the Keystone Club of the Hudson County Boys & Girls Clubs, who were concerned about suicide and self-harm among teenagers.

The bill was originally sponsored by a committee including Assemblymen Carmelo Garcia and Raj Mukherji, who both represent District 33, including Hoboken.

The bill now awaits final legislative approval by the General Assembly. It was originally approved by the Assembly in January, but it was later amended in a Senate committee and must go for a vote before the full Assembly again.

See the full text of the bill and amendments here.

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