Bill Text: IA SF31 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to sexual orientation change efforts and making penalties applicable. (See SF 334.)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-17 - Passed subcommittee. [SF31 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-SF31-Introduced.html
Senate File 31 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY McCOY A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to sexual orientation change efforts and making 2 penalties applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1442XS (2) 86 pf/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135.181 Sexual orientation change 1 2 efforts. 1 3 1. For the purposes of this division, unless the context 1 4 otherwise requires: 1 5 a. "Mental health provider" means a physician and surgeon or 1 6 osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed under chapter 148 1 7 who specializes in the practice of psychiatry; a psychologist 1 8 licensed under chapter 154B; a licensed marital and family 1 9 therapist or mental health counselor or a temporary licensed 1 10 marital and family therapist or mental health counselor as 1 11 defined in section 154D.1; a social worker licensed pursuant to 1 12 chapter 154C; a licensed school counselor, school psychologist, 1 13 or school social worker; or an advanced registered nurse 1 14 practitioner, a psychiatric nurse, or any other person who 1 15 provides counseling or mental health or behavioral health 1 16 services as a part of the person's professional training or 1 17 practice under Iowa law or rule, or any student, intern, 1 18 volunteer, or other person assisting or acting under the 1 19 direction or guidance of any of these professionals. 1 20 b. "Patient" means an individual who is under the care of a 1 21 mental health provider. 1 22 c. (1) "Sexual orientation change efforts" means any 1 23 practice by a mental health provider that seeks to change an 1 24 individual's sexual orientation, including but not limited 1 25 to efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to 1 26 eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings 1 27 toward individuals of the same sex. 1 28 (2) "Sexual orientation change efforts" does not include any 1 29 of the following: 1 30 (a) Counseling or therapy that provides acceptance, 1 31 support, and understanding of the individual or the 1 32 facilitation of an individual's coping, social support, 1 33 and identity exploration and development, including sexual 1 34 orientation=neutral interventions to prevent or address 1 35 unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices. 2 1 (b) Psychotherapies that do not seek to change sexual 2 2 orientation. 2 3 (c) Counseling for an individual seeking to transition from 2 4 one gender to another. 2 5 2. A mental health provider shall not engage in sexual 2 6 orientation change efforts with a patient under eighteen years 2 7 of age. 2 8 3. A mental health provider who engages in sexual 2 9 orientation change efforts with a patient under eighteen years 2 10 of age shall be subject to disciplinary action by the licensing 2 11 entity or disciplinary authority with professional jurisdiction 2 12 over the mental health provider. 2 13 EXPLANATION 2 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 15 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 16 This bill prohibits a mental health provider from engaging 2 17 in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient under 18 2 18 years of age. The bill provides that a mental health provider 2 19 who engages in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient 2 20 under 18 years of age is subject to disciplinary action by the 2 21 entity or disciplinary authority with professional jurisdiction 2 22 over the mental health provider. LSB 1442XS (2) 86 pf/nh
