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Youth advocates tell Springfield leaders to oppose House Bill 172, say parental-consent rule would block student mental-health care
Summary
Students from BATS, a youth-led prevention group, told the Springfield City Commission that House Bill 172would require parental consent for nearly all school-based mental-health services and create barriers for students in unsafe or unsupportive homes. Commissioners praised the testimony and several said it changed their thinking.
Members of BATS, a youth-led substance-use prevention and mental-health group, told the Springfield City Commission during a work session that they oppose Ohio House Bill 172 because it would require parental consent and restrict students' access to school-based mental-health care.
"So what BATS is, like you said, bringing awareness for to students," Mary Cunningham said, identifying herself as president of BATS and a senior at Miami Valley School. "We are a youth led group, with about 50 members ranging ... 10 different schools in the region." She said the group recently visited the State House to oppose HB 172 and asked commissioners to "listen with an open mind."
The students said the bill, as they described it, would eliminate current pathways for students to get help without parental consent and force nearly every student to obtain parental permission before…
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