Permits runaways and homeless youth under the age of 18 who are receiving approved crisis or support services to consent to medical, dental, health and hospital services.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A9604
SPONSOR: Gottfried
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to enabling certain
persons to consent for certain medical, dental, health and hospital
services
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To authorize homeless and runaway youth to consent to their medical,
dental, health, and hospital care.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Public Health Law section 2504 subdivision 1 by adding
runaway and homeless youth, as defined in Executive Law section 532-a,
and youth receiving services at an approved runaway and homeless youth
crisis services program or a transitional independent living support
program, as defined in Executive Law section 532-a, to the statute
allowing individuals to consent to their own medical, dental, health and
hospital care.
Section 2 is the effective date: ninety days after it becomes a law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law generally requires parental consent for minors to receive
health care unless the minor is married or has a child. The need for
parental consent can be a huge barrier to accessing health care, espe-
cially for minors who are homeless or who feel unsafe in their homes and
have run away. This bill enables individuals who meet the definitions of
"homeless youth" and "runaway youth", or who receive services at an
approved runaway and homeless youth crisis services program or transi-
tional independent living support program to consent to their own health
care.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.