Senate Memorial 6 requests the New Mexico Department of Health to conduct a study on the potential revision of the Children's Code, specifically regarding the rights of both parents and their minor children to consent to mental health treatment. Currently, the law allows minors aged fourteen and older to refuse treatment, which can prevent parents from seeking necessary care for their children, even in cases where the child's safety is at risk. The memorial highlights the importance of mental health treatment and the potential negative consequences of refusal, advocating for a reconsideration of the age of consent based on developmental stages and the impact on families.

The proposed study aims to analyze and compare mental health outcomes for New Mexico youth with those from states that have joint consent laws, which allow both parents and minors to consent to treatment. It will examine data related to youth mental health indicators, the prevalence of residential treatment, and the involvement of youth in the juvenile justice system. The findings and recommendations from this study are to be reported to the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2025.