State RCWs on mental health
The Washington State RCWs (Revised Code of Washington) which cover mental illness are found here:
RCW Title 71: Mental Illness
The RCWs referring specifically to mental health services for minors are found here:
RCW Chapter 71.34: Mental health services for minors.
NOTE TO PARENTS: The RCW which pertains to a parent requesting services for a minor without consent
required is reprinted below. This RCW can also be seen here: RCW 71.34.600
RCW 71.34.600
"Parent may request determination whether minor has mental disorder requiring inpatient treatment
— Minor consent not required — Duties and obligations of professional person and facility.
(1) A parent may bring, or authorize the bringing of, his or her minor child to an evaluation and treatment facility
or an inpatient facility licensed under chapter 70.41, 71.12, or 72.23 RCW and request that the professional
person as defined in *RCW 71.05.020(24) examine the minor to determine whether the minor has a mental
disorder and is in need of inpatient treatment.
(2) The consent of the minor is not required for admission, evaluation, and treatment if the parent brings the
minor to the facility.
(3) An appropriately trained professional person may evaluate whether the minor has a mental disorder. The
evaluation shall be completed within twenty-four hours of the time the minor was brought to the facility, unless
the professional person determines that the condition of the minor necessitates additional time for evaluation.
In no event shall a minor be held longer than seventy-two hours for evaluation. If, in the judgment of the
professional person, it is determined it is a medical necessity for the minor to receive inpatient treatment, the
minor may be held for treatment. The facility shall limit treatment to that which the professional person
determines is medically necessary to stabilize the minor's condition until the evaluation has been completed.
Within twenty-four hours of completion of the evaluation, the professional person shall notify the department if
the child is held for treatment and of the date of admission.
(4) No provider is obligated to provide treatment to a minor under the provisions of this section except that no
provider may refuse to treat a minor under the provisions of this section solely on the basis that the minor has
not consented to the treatment. No provider may admit a minor to treatment under this section unless it is
medically necessary.
(5) No minor receiving inpatient treatment under this section may be discharged from the facility based solely
on his or her request.
(6) Prior to the review conducted under RCW 71.34.610, the professional person shall notify the minor of his or
her right to petition superior court for release from the facility.
(7) For the purposes of this section "professional person" means "professional person" as defined in RCW
71.05.020.
[2005 c 371 § 4; 1998 c 296 § 17. Formerly RCW 71.34.052.]
Notes:
*Reviser's note: RCW 71.05.020 was amended by 2005 c 504 § 104, changing subsection (24) to subsection
(26).
Finding -- Intent--2005 c 371: "The legislature finds that, despite explicit statements in statute that the consent
of a minor child is not required for a parent-initiated admission to inpatient or outpatient mental health
treatment, treatment providers consistently refuse to accept a minor aged thirteen or over if the minor does not
also consent to treatment. The legislature intends that the parent-initiated treatment provisions, with their
accompanying due process provisions for the minor, be made fully available to parents." [2005 c 371 § 1.]
Severability -- 2005 c 371: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2005 c 371 § 7.]
Findings -- Intent -- Part headings not law -- Short title -- 1998 c 296: See notes following RCW 74.13.025.
The Washington State RCWs (Revised Code of Washington) which cover mental illness are found here:
RCW Title 71: Mental Illness
The RCWs referring specifically to mental health services for minors are found here:
RCW Chapter 71.34: Mental health services for minors.
NOTE TO PARENTS: The RCW which pertains to a parent requesting services for a minor without consent
required is reprinted below. This RCW can also be seen here: RCW 71.34.600
RCW 71.34.600
"Parent may request determination whether minor has mental disorder requiring inpatient treatment
— Minor consent not required — Duties and obligations of professional person and facility.
(1) A parent may bring, or authorize the bringing of, his or her minor child to an evaluation and treatment facility
or an inpatient facility licensed under chapter 70.41, 71.12, or 72.23 RCW and request that the professional
person as defined in *RCW 71.05.020(24) examine the minor to determine whether the minor has a mental
disorder and is in need of inpatient treatment.
(2) The consent of the minor is not required for admission, evaluation, and treatment if the parent brings the
minor to the facility.
(3) An appropriately trained professional person may evaluate whether the minor has a mental disorder. The
evaluation shall be completed within twenty-four hours of the time the minor was brought to the facility, unless
the professional person determines that the condition of the minor necessitates additional time for evaluation.
In no event shall a minor be held longer than seventy-two hours for evaluation. If, in the judgment of the
professional person, it is determined it is a medical necessity for the minor to receive inpatient treatment, the
minor may be held for treatment. The facility shall limit treatment to that which the professional person
determines is medically necessary to stabilize the minor's condition until the evaluation has been completed.
Within twenty-four hours of completion of the evaluation, the professional person shall notify the department if
the child is held for treatment and of the date of admission.
(4) No provider is obligated to provide treatment to a minor under the provisions of this section except that no
provider may refuse to treat a minor under the provisions of this section solely on the basis that the minor has
not consented to the treatment. No provider may admit a minor to treatment under this section unless it is
medically necessary.
(5) No minor receiving inpatient treatment under this section may be discharged from the facility based solely
on his or her request.
(6) Prior to the review conducted under RCW 71.34.610, the professional person shall notify the minor of his or
her right to petition superior court for release from the facility.
(7) For the purposes of this section "professional person" means "professional person" as defined in RCW
71.05.020.
[2005 c 371 § 4; 1998 c 296 § 17. Formerly RCW 71.34.052.]
Notes:
*Reviser's note: RCW 71.05.020 was amended by 2005 c 504 § 104, changing subsection (24) to subsection
(26).
Finding -- Intent--2005 c 371: "The legislature finds that, despite explicit statements in statute that the consent
of a minor child is not required for a parent-initiated admission to inpatient or outpatient mental health
treatment, treatment providers consistently refuse to accept a minor aged thirteen or over if the minor does not
also consent to treatment. The legislature intends that the parent-initiated treatment provisions, with their
accompanying due process provisions for the minor, be made fully available to parents." [2005 c 371 § 1.]
Severability -- 2005 c 371: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not
affected." [2005 c 371 § 7.]
Findings -- Intent -- Part headings not law -- Short title -- 1998 c 296: See notes following RCW 74.13.025.
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