SB 63
CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (Carey, J. – R) 

Introduced to Senate: February 16, 2005
Assigned to Senate Health, Human Services and Aging (Coughlin)
Assigned to committee on February 22, 2005, no hearings have been held.

This bill provides for voluntary placement agreements for children with mental illness, to prohibit a public children services agency from requiring that a parent or custodian relinquish legal custody in order to access services under a voluntary placement agreement, and revises the law governing county families and children first councils. 

PCSAO supports the right of the biological parent to access mental health services without having to give up custody to a PCSA.  Provisions have already been put in place in the ABC Initiative passed in HB 66 signed by the Governor on June 30, 2005.