The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Young and Bradfield, introduced House Bill 24-1471 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Current law allows electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) to be performed on minors who are between 16 and 18 years old, have the consent of a parent or guardian, and have been approved by two medical practitioners specializing in psychiatry. The bill permits minors under the age of 16 years old to receive ECT if the following conditions are met: two licensed medical professionals specializing in psychiatry approve of the treatment; other less-invasive treatments have failed; ECT is necessary due to severity of the minor’s condition; ECT is performed by at least one physician or physician’s designee; and the minor’s parent or guardian consents to the treatment.

The bill sponsors provided a printed handout to members of the committee (Attachment A).

Dr. Thomas Zimmer, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Beau Carubia, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Anastasia Klott, representing Emily Wroblewski, testified in support of the bill.

Amy Lyden, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony was submited to the committee (Attachment B).

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.