Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB3709

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that counseling services or psychotherapy on an outpatient basis provided to a minor 12 years of age or older must be provided by, or under the supervision of, a licensed service provider. Provides that until the consent of the minor's parent, legal guardian, or person in loco parentis has been obtained, outpatient counseling or psychotherapy provided to a minor under the age of 18 (rather than 17) shall be initially limited to not more than 8 90-minute sessions (rather than 5 sessions, a session lasting not more than 45 minutes). Provides that after the eighth session, the service provider shall consider specified statutory factors throughout the therapeutic process to determine, through consultation with the minor, whether attempting to obtain the consent of a parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis would be detrimental to the minor's well-being. Provides that obtaining the consent of a parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis shall be presumed to be detrimental to the minor's well-being for counseling services or psychotherapy related to allegations of neglect, sexual abuse, or mental or physical abuse by the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis. Provides that the minor's parent, guardian or person in loco parentis shall not be liable for the out-of-pocket costs, including co-payments, deductibles, or co-insurance (rather than costs)for outpatient counseling or psychotherapy which is received by the minor without the consent of the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Reinserts the provisions of the bill but provides that when counseling services or psychotherapy are related to allegations of neglect, sexual abuse, or mental or physical abuse by the minor's parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis, obtaining consent of that parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis shall be presumed to be detrimental to the minor's well-being and provides that counseling services or psychotherapy provided under this provision shall be provided in compliance with the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act or the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. Restores 17 years of age as the age for which outpatient counseling services or psychotherapy are no longer initially limited to 8 90 minute sessions without the consent of a parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis. Provides that if the minor chooses to discontinue counseling services or psychotherapy after being informed of the decision of the facility director or service provider to disclose the fact of counseling services or psychotherapy to the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis, then the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis shall not be notified.

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