Parents would have more rights to help mentally ill teens if this bill passes

Lawmakers in Olympia are holding a public hearing Wednesday on a bill that would expand parents’ rights to access mental health care for their adolescent children.

The bill includes changes long sought by parents, who have argued that state law makes it difficult to help mentally ill teenagers if they refuse to cooperate.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, would allow mental health care providers to give limited information to parents about their teens’ mental health treatment, even if the teens object. Currently, providers can share information only if the teen explicitly consents.