Legislative Memo: Enabling Homeless Youth to Consent to Health Care

It is imperative that all young people have access to health care when they need it. Unfortunately, under New York state law, most homeless and runaway youth are unable to access any health care at all unless or until their condition becomes critical.

A.9604 (Gottfried)/S.8937 (Brisport) would fill this gap by allowing homeless and runaway youth, as well as youth who receive services at an an approved runaway and homeless youth crisis service program or a transitional independent living support program, to consent to their own health care. The NYCLU strongly supports this legislation and urges its immediate passage.