Bills affecting Mental health service user in Pennsylvania (2026 session)

Amending the act of February 13, 1970 (P.L.19, No.10), entitled "An act enabling certain minors to consent to medical, dental and health services, declaring consent unnecessary under certain circumstances," further providing for mental health treatment and for liability for rendering services; and providing for applicability.

In school health services, providing for parental notification of implementation of mental health services digital platform by school entity.

In health care, further providing for definitions, for legislative findings and intent, for compliance, for conflicting advance health care directives, for life insurance, for health care instruments optional, for pregnancy and for liability, providing for prohibited conduct and damages, for judicial relief, for implementation, savings provision and transitional provision and for uniformity of application and construction, repealing provisions relating to living wills, providing for health care decisions and advance health care directives, repealing provisions relating to short title of subchapter, providing for advance mental health care directive, further providing for execution, for requirements and options, for when health care power of attorney operative, for appointment of health care agents, for authority of health care agent, for countermand, for amendment, for revocation, for relation of health care agent to court-appointed guardian and other agents, for decisions by health care representative, for duties of attending physician and health care provider, for effect on other State law, for validity and for form, providing for effect of copy and certified physical copy, repealing provisions relating to example and providing for example; repealing provisions relating to mental health care; and making an editorial change.

Amending the act of February 13, 1970 (P.L.19, No.10), entitled "An act enabling certain minors to consent to medical, dental and health services, declaring consent unnecessary under certain circumstances," further providing for individual consent, for mental health treatment and for release of medical records; and providing for parent or legal guardian access to medical records.

Establishing the Mental Health Professional Student Loan Forgiveness Program; imposing powers and duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; and making an appropriation.

Providing for Mental Health Workforce Retention Program; and making an appropriation.

In emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for confidential communications involving emergency responders and providing for mental health evaluations for 911 dispatchers.

In post-trial matters, further providing for eligibility for relief, providing for postconviction review for veterans with service-connected mental health disability and further providing for jurisdiction and proceedings; and, in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree.

In general provisions, repeals and effective date, providing for acute care mental health bed registry and referrals.

Providing for mental health crisis response; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services.

Providing for protection of minors on social media; and imposing penalties.

In pupils and attendance, further providing for definitions and providing for mental health days.

In school health services, providing for student mental health awareness.

Providing for the use of artificial intelligence in mental health therapy and for enforcement.

Providing for the use of mental health chatbots and artificial intelligence by mental health therapists; imposing duties on the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs; and imposing a penalty.

Providing for behavioral health benefits for justice-involved children; and, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions and for costs and expenses of care of child, providing for mandatory intake conference and screening in cases alleging delinquency and further providing for informal adjustment and for powers and duties.

Providing for parental consent for virtual mental health services provided by a school entity.

In miscellaneous provisions, establishing the Veterans Mental Health Services Program.

In student supports, further providing for definitions and for student supports and providing for the Pennsylvania Mental Health First Aid Training Program; and, in school safety and security, further providing for the School Safety and Security Grant Program.

In terms and courses of study, providing for student mental health supports.