2019 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 32A - Children's Code
Article 6A - Children's Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Section 32A-6A-15 - Consent for services; children fourteen years of age or older.

A. A child fourteen years of age or older is presumed to have capacity to consent to treatment without consent of the child's legal custodian, including consent for individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, guidance counseling, case management, behavioral therapy, family therapy, counseling, substance abuse treatment or other forms of verbal treatment that do not include aversive interventions. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to provide a child fourteen years of age or older with independent consent rights for the purposes of the provision of special education and related services as set forth in federal law.

B. Psychotropic medications may be administered to a child fourteen years of age or older with the informed consent of the child. When psychotropic medications are administered to a child fourteen years of age or older, the child's legal custodian shall be notified by the clinician.

C. A clinician or other mental health and developmental disabilities professional shall promote the healthy involvement of a child's legal custodians and family members in developing and implementing the child's treatment plan, including appropriate participation in treatment for children fourteen years of age or older. However, nothing in this section shall limit the rights of a child fourteen years of age or older to consent to services and to consent to disclosure of mental health records.

History: Laws 2007, ch. 162, § 15.

Effective dates. — Laws 2007, ch. 162 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 15, 2007, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.