More on Age 14 majority rule in PA

[Guest guest]

This information may shed some light about the age of majority in PA for

mental health consumers. I received the following from the executive

director of the PA Tourette Syndrome Association concerning a bill that

would make minors in PA who receive mental health services on a par with

other minors - namely that the parents control mental health for them until

age 18, the same that parents control all other issues for minor children.

Any of you who are in PA are asked to write to Sen. Hal Mowery AND your own

state senator supporting this bill.

Progress, one child at a time.

Phyllis (PA)

ppepe40@...

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Great News !!!

You will remember that PA-TSA has been diligently working on getting the

Age 14 majority rule in the Mental Health Law changed to age 18. As the

law now stands, children with emotional issues are considered by law to be

capable of making their own decisions as to whether or not they need to be

treated or hospitalized for out of control behavior. Children without

mental health issues are considered to be of majority age at 18 years old.

This, in effect, makes parents totally responsible for anything their child

does from age 14 to 18 but leaves parents impotent to do anything about a

youngster tearing the house apart in a rage attack, attacking members of

the family, etc. Parents' only option was to have the child arrested and

put into the Juvenile Law Offender system.

Last week House Bill 1448 passed 197 to 2 to change that to age 18 years!!!

Hurrah - one for our side. BUT - that is only half the battle.

Now the Bill (same number) is in the Public Health & Welfare Committee of

the Senate and needs to be voted out of the Senate Health & Welfare

Committee (Sen. Hal Mowery, Chairman) and onto the floor of the Senate for

a vote - BEFORE THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE YEAR!!

This means we need your help. NOW!!! Please contact Sen. Mowery by mail

at Senate Box 203031, burg, PA 17120 or at his local office at 1023

Mumma Road, Lemoyne, PA 17043 and encourage him to forward the Bill out of

committee and to the floor of the Senate for a vote. His e-mail is

hmowery@... and you may e-mail him as well.

Please also visit or write your own senator and ask him/her to also contact

Sen. Mowery AND to support the Bill when it comes to a vote.

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