HB 613 – Essential Services for Homeless Youth
Primary Sponsors: Rep. Josh Dobson (R-Avery) Rep. Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe)
Bill Summary
This bill would allow unaccompanied homeless minors to consent to certain essential health services.
- This includes a physical examination that is required for youth’s participation in a school activity by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
- This includes any dental service performed by a licensed dentist.
- This includes any service that constitutes the practice of optometry by an optometrist.
- This includes a health screening, outpatient treatment or a combination for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness or substance abused by a qualified health professional.
The bill establishes responsibility, liability, and immunity for health care providers who render certain essential health services to consenting unaccompanied homeless minors.
The bill states that in order to give consent an unaccompanied homeless minor shall provide the health provider documentation that he or she is an unaccompanied homeless minor.
The bill seeks to expand access to child care services to minors with children by asking the Social Services Commission to review this issue.
Bill Movement
This bill was filed on April 4, 2019.
This bill was referred to the following committees:
- Homelessness – passed April 8, 2019
- Judiciary – stricken May 5, 2019
- Rules – passed May 6, 2019
This bill passed with a vote of 96- 17 on May 7, 2019.