SB240 allows minors aged 16 and older to consent to behavioral and mental health services independently. It also authorizes school personnel to recommend behavioral health or mental health professionals to these students.
The Alaska State Senate passed SB240 on April 24, 2024 by a vote of 14 to 5. We have assigned pluses to the nays because a child’s healthcare decisions should be under the authority of their parents, not the government. Parental rights are fundamental, protected by both the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, minors are not yet mature enough to give informed consent independently, making parental involvement essential in any healthcare decisions—not the government.