SB142 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Sanford
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Parents or legal guardian, authorize treatment for medical, dental, health, or mental health service, including commitment to mental health facility, where minor refused
Summary: Allows a parent or guardian of a minor aged 14 to 18 to authorize mental health treatment against the minor's wishes when a clinician says it's necessary.
What This Bill Does
It lets a parent or legal guardian consent to mental health care for a 14–18-year-old even if the teen refuses, provided both the parent/guardian and a mental health professional determine the intervention is necessary and appropriate. Access to the minor's mental health records will follow HIPAA privacy rules. The measure becomes law on the first day of the third month after it is signed by the governor.

Who It Affects
Minors aged 14-18: may receive mental health treatment even if they refuse, when a clinician agrees it's needed.
Parents or legal guardians of those minors: gain authority to authorize such treatment and access the minor's mental health records under HIPAA rules.

Key Provisions
Authorizes a parent or legal guardian of a minor aged 14-18 to authorize mental health treatment for the minor even if the minor refuses, when a mental health professional determines intervention is necessary and appropriate.
States that access to the minor's mental health records will follow HIPAA privacy rules, and sets the act's effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Parents