MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate passed legislation on Tuesday raising the age of consent for medical treatment from 14 to 16.
The original bill raised the age to 18 before being amended to 16 on Tuesday.
The bill by State Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) would require a minor to be at least 16 years of age to consent to medical, dental and mental health services, including participation in school counseling services, receipt of a vaccine and the donation of bone marrow, unless the minor is married, divorced, pregnant, emancipated or living independently apart from his or her parents or legal guardian.
“If you’re emancipated, if you’re living on your own, you’re excluded from this in the bill, so we did address that issue. I fundamentally believe that responsibility for your children is a fundamental responsibility of parents. It’s a fundamental right of parents to be in a position to give or not give consent for procedures for their minor children. That’s why I’m carrying the bill,” Stutts said on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
The only votes against the bill, which passed 30-2, were State Sens. Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham) and Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery). The bill now goes to the House for their consideration.
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