STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The suicide of a Staten Island teenager was a major impetus behind a new bill that's gaining traction in the New Jersey legislature, according to a report in the Journal News.
The Boys and Girls Clubs Keystone Law -- aimed to fight teen suicide and allow minors to seek healthcare without adult consent -- was unanimously approved by the New Jersey Assembly Women and Children Committee on Oct. 9, the report says.
The idea of the bill was inspired by Felicia Garcia, a 15-year-old Tottenville High School student who threw herself in front of a Staten Island Railway train in 2012 after being bullied by classmates.
Ms. Garcia was a part of the Boys and Girls Club, which had several members that dealt with physical and verbal abuse, the article said.
The bill, according to the report, calls for the expansion of a current law allowing minors to give consent for behavioral healthcare, including for instances of mental illness. Minors will then have access to professional therapists and social workers who can assess their issues and provide treatment.
The Assembly could approve the bill on Nov. 13, the paper said.