SB 90-MINOR MENTAL HEALTH: AGE OF CONSENT  3:33:23 PM CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 90 "An Act relating to the examination and treatment of minors; relating to consent for behavioral and mental health treatment for minors 16 years of age or older; and providing for an effective date." CHAIR DUNBAR stated no amendments were received for SB 90. 3:33:49 PM SENATOR GIESSEL, District E, speaking as sponsor of SB 90 thanked the committee for hearing the bill again and introduced her staff. 3:34:02 PM PAIGE BROWN, Staff, Senator Giessel, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered a recap of SB 90. She stated that the legislation would lower the age of consent for mental and behavioral health services from 18 to 16, allowing up to five sessions of up to 90 minutes each. After those sessions, services must stop unless continuing without parental consent would harm the minor's well-being. 3:34:41 PM CHAIR DUNBAR resumed public testimony on SB 90. 3:35:23 PM TAMAR BEN-YOSEF, Executive Director, Alaska Pediatric Partnership, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 90. She said the bill is intended to improve access to mental and behavioral health services for Alaska's youth, particularly in rural areas where resources are already scarce. Demand for these services continues to rise, and delayed treatment leads to worse outcomes and greater strain on an overburdened system. National pediatric ethics guidance supports allowing adolescents with decision-making capacity to consent to needed care, underscoring the importance of reducing unnecessary barriers. 3:36:05 PM SENATOR CLAMAN arrived at the meeting. 3:40:00 PM INEZ HUNTER, representing self, Bethel, Alaska, testified in support of SB 90. She stated that 16-year-olds are mature enough to seek mental health support on their own and argued that, since 16-year-olds can already make other decisions without parental consent at that age, they should likewise be allowed to see a therapist independently. 3:41:56 PM LANCE JOHNSON, Chief Operating Officer, Alaska Behavioral Health Association, Talkeetna, Alaska, testified in support of SB 90. He explained that many adolescents who seek behavioral health support cannot receive it because parents are unavailable or unwilling to consent. He described the distressing consequences of being unable to treat youths in need. He emphasized that older adolescents are capable of making their own health decisions and that rising suicide-related emergency visits among youth make expanded access to care essential. 3:44:51 PM ISAAC SMOLDON, Communications Director, My House, North Pole, Alaska, testified in support of SB 90. He explained that the drop-in center serves homeless and at-risk youth ages 14 to 25 and strongly supports the language in SB 90 that would allow unaccompanied homeless minors and youth in foster care to access mental health treatment without parental consent. He noted that this aligns with existing statutes permitting these youth to obtain other essential medical and dental services. On behalf of their clients, he endorsed the amendment as necessary to ensure access to critical mental and behavioral health care. 3:46:09 PM CHAIR DUNBAR closed public testimony on SB 90. 3:46:21 PM CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee. 3:46:23 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 90, work order 34-LS0275\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 3:46:37 PM CHAIR DUNBAR found no objection and SB 90 was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.