A. Except as otherwise provided by law or a court order, no person, corporation, association, organization or state-supported institution, or any individual employed by any of these entities, may procure, solicit to perform, arrange for the performance of or perform an assessment for mental health therapy on a minor without first obtaining the written consent of a parent or a legal guardian of the minor child. Provided, however, that if written consent is provided to a school district for assessment or treatment, such consent shall be effective for the school year for which it is granted and shall be renewed each subsequent school year. If an assessment or treatment is performed through telemedicine at a school site and if consent has been provided by the parent and is currently effective, the health professional shall not be required to verify that the parent is at the site. However, a child shall not be seen without consent.

B. This section does not apply when an emergency exists that requires a person to perform mental health screening or provide mental health treatment to prevent serious injury to or save the life of a minor child.

C. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than one (1) year in the county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Added by Laws 2014, c. 238, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2014. Amended by Laws 2019, c. 329, § 2, eff. July 1, 2019.