Authorizing the parent or legal guardian of a child to have the child committed for substance use or mental health treatment

Under current law, if a minor refuses to receive treatment or rehabilitation services (SUD treatment) for the child’s substance use disorder, or refuses observation, diagnosis, care, or treatment (mental health treatment) for the child’s mental health disorder, the child’s parents, or any other interested person, need to obtain a court order to have the child committed for SUD treatment or mental health treatment. This bill authorizes a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child to have the child committed over the objections of the child for SUD treatment, mental health treatment, or both. Judicial proceedings will not be required to commit a child unless both the child and the child’s parents, legal guardians, or custodians object to the commitment. If a minor is admitted for SUD treatment or mental health treatment over the minor’s objections, the chief medical officer of the hospital admitting the minor must notify the juvenile court, and the juvenile court must appoint an advocate for the minor.910.