Permits minors 13 years of age and older to consent to behavioral health care services.

This bill lowers the age at which minors can consent to behavioral health care services for mental illness or emotional disorders from 16 to 13 years old in New Jersey. It allows minors aged 13 and older to independently consent to outpatient treatment (excluding medication) with licensed providers like psychologists, social workers, or psychiatrists, without requiring parental permission. The consent is legally binding as if the minor were an adult, and treatment details remain confidential between the minor and provider. This directly affects minors aged 13-15 seeking mental health services who previously needed parental consent for such care.