6 Bills That Made Children’s Mental Health Safer
This post is a guest post from Amanda Sparks
Protecting children and ensuring that their mental health needs are met should be a legislative priority everywhere. Fortunately, there have been actions by various state legislative bodies to do just that. Here are the details of six bills that have been written to protect the interests of children.
Illinois – HB0281 Foster Child Psych Drugs
IL HB0281 is a law sponsored by Rep. Mary Flowers. It is currently in committee and has not been subject to a vote. This bill aims to put into place regulations regarding the administration of psychotropic drugs to foster children, children in group homes and juvenile facilities, and other children who are in the care and custody of the state.
It will specifically ban the use of psychotropic drugs as punishment for misbehavior, add new reporting requirements for instances when psychotropic drugs are administered in emergency conditions, mandate that policies and procedures about the administration of these drugs are published and distributed, and provides training to foster families and others about these drugs. In addition to this, the bill will allow youths who do not consent to receive psychotropic medications a path to have their concerns heard.
California – SB190 Ending Juvenile Fees
CA SB190 was signed into law in October 2017. Children with mental health issues often end up in the juvenile justice system. Before SB190 was passed, counties were allowed to charge the families of these youths administrative fees when they were placed on probation, housed in juvenile facilities, or on home detention. Because families of children in the juvenile justice system are largely low income and racial minorities, these fees caused undue financial hardship. Supporters believe these fees also placed an unfair burden on minority families.
The passage of this bill means that no administrative fees will be charged to families of these children. It passed with a vote of 37 to 3.
Indiana – SB0230 Suicide Prevention
IN SB0230 has passed and is currently waiting to be signed. It establishes the Division of Mental Health and Addiction as being the entity responsible for suicide prevention. It obligates the Division of Mental Health and Addiction to create a proven, research-based training plan for healthcare workers. This will include suicide risk assessment, training, and management. It also mandates training for first responders.
On the subject of children suffering from mental health issues specifically, the bill mandates training for teachers. This will cover suicide prevention and recognizing the signs that a student may be contemplating suicide.
Pennsylvania – HB631 Protecting Victims of Sexual Abuse
PA HB631 became law in late February 2018. This is a wide-reaching bill addressing several topics relating to convicted sex offenders. First, it puts into place new regulations assuring that sex offenders remain on the sex offender register in PA. It also mandates that sex offenders who max out their sentences must serve three years of probation upon being released.
In addition to those requirements, the bill also makes it a crime to like to law enforcement about the presence or location of a sex offender, or to house one in a way that goes against the conditions of their release. The law also makes it a crime to leave a child in the care of a sex offender. Finally, there are provisions that add harsher penalties for those who harass, threaten, or intimidate sexual abuse and assault victims.
Utah SB0065 – Child Neglect Amendments
UT SB0065 has been released from committee and is now awaiting a vote. This bill will amend existing child neglect statutes. It states that nurses and other medical professionals who believe that a child has been subject to neglect or abuse, or is in conditions that will reasonably result in neglect or abuse that must be reported to the division or local law enforcement.
It further clarifies the definition of neglect. It details when members of the clergy are mandatory reporters of neglect and abuse. It also modifies some language that states that a child being interviewed when abuse or neglect is suspected can have a support person with them of their choosing. This cannot be anyone suspected of being involved in the abuse or neglect in any way.
Virginia HB291 – Helping Adoptees And Adopters Access Vital Records
VA HB291 was signed into law in February 2018. It passed unanimously. The bill allows adoptive parents and adoptees who have reached the age of majority to access vital physical and mental health records. At the same time, it contains provisions that protect the privacy of individuals who have placed children up for adoption.
This means that parents of children who suffer from mental illness will be able to see biological family history as it relates to their children’s health. This information can be vital in treating these children and diagnosing them.
Conclusion
The six bills above are examples of legislation across the United States that has been designed to protect children. These bills prevent the mental health issues that may form after being subjected to neglect or abuse. In other cases, they serve to help families where children are already struggling.
About the author:
Amanda Sparks, professional psychologist and blogger at Essay Supply. I am passionate about changing human living for the better and helping people overcome their mental problems.