HB5569 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 18589 ZMM 53730 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5569

Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act. Defines "mental health provider" and "sexual orientation change efforts". Provides that no mental health provider shall engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under the age of 18. Further provides that any sexual orientation change effort attempted on a person under the age of 18 by a mental health provider shall be considered unprofessional conduct and that a mental health provider found to have engaged in a sexual orientation change effort shall be disciplined by the licensing entity or disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to prohibit the use of sexual orientation change efforts, also known as conversion therapy, by mental health providers licensed by or practicing in the State of Illinois

Section 10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:

"Mental health provider" means a clinical psychologist licensed under the Clinical Psychology Licensing Act; a school psychologist as defined in the School Code; a psychiatrist as defined in Section 1-121 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code; a clinical social worker or social worker licensed under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act; a marriage and family therapist or associate marriage and family therapist licensed under the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act; a professional counselor or clinical professional counselor licensed under the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act; or any students, interns, volunteers, or other persons assisting or acting under the direction or guidance of any of these licensed professionals.

"Sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy" means any practices or treatments that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards individuals of the same sex. "Sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy" does not include counseling or mental health services that provide acceptance, support, and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual persuasion or orientation or mental health services that facilitate a person's coping, social support, and gender identity exploration and development, including sexual persuasion neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual persuasion or orientation.

Section 15. Prohibition on conversion therapy. Under no circumstances shall a mental health provider engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under the age of 18.

Section 20. Discipline. Any sexual orientation change effort attempted on a person under the age of 18 by a mental health provider shall be considered unprofessional conduct. Mental health providers found to have engaged in a sexual orientation change effort shall be disciplined by the licensing entity or disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction.