State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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90_HB1184

      740 ILCS 140/Act title
      740 ILCS 140/0.01         from Ch. 70, par. 800
      740 ILCS 140/1            from Ch. 70, par. 801
      740 ILCS 140/2            from Ch. 70, par. 802
      740 ILCS 140/3            from Ch. 70, par. 803
          Amends the  Sexual  Exploitation  in  Psychotherapy  Act.
      Changes   the   title   to   the   Sexual   Exploitation   in
      Psychotherapy, Professional Health Services, and Professional
      Mental  Health  Services Act.  Provides for a cause of action
      for sexual exploitation of a patient or former patient by  an
      unlicensed  health  professional  or unlicensed mental health
      professional.  Authorizes the Attorney General  to  bring  an
      action  for  injunctive  relief  against  a  psychotherapist,
      unlicensed  health  professional, or unlicensed mental health
      professional.  Makes violation  of  court  order  a  Class  4
      felony  punishable  by  a  fine  not  to exceed $25,000; also
      provides  for  a  civil  penalty  of  $10,000  for  contempt.
      Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9003870DJcd
                                               LRB9003870DJcd
 1        AN ACT to amend the Sexual Exploitation in  Psychotherapy
 2    Act by changing the title of the Act and Sections 0.01, 1, 2,
 3    and 3.
 4        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 5    represented in the General Assembly:
 6        Section 5.  The Sexual Exploitation in Psychotherapy  Act
 7    is  amended  by  changing  the  title of the Act and Sections
 8    0.01, 1, 2, and 3 as follows:
 9        (740 ILCS 140/Act title)
10        An    Act    concerning    sexual     exploitation     by
11    psychotherapists,   unlicensed   health   professionals,   or
12    unlicensed mental health professionals.
13    (Source: P.A. 85-1254.)
14        (740 ILCS 140/0.01) (from Ch. 70, par. 800)
15        Sec.  0.01.   Short  title.  This Act may be cited as the
16    Sexual Exploitation  in  Psychotherapy,  Professional  Health
17    Services, and Professional Mental Health Services Act.
18    (Source: P.A. 86-1324.)
19        (740 ILCS 140/1) (from Ch. 70, par. 801)
20        Sec. 1.  Definitions.  In this Act:
21        (a)  "Emotionally dependent" means that the nature of the
22    patient's  or  former  patient's  emotional condition and the
23    nature of the  treatment  provided  by  the  psychotherapist,
24    unlicensed  health  professional, or unlicensed mental health
25    professional are such that  the  psychotherapist,  unlicensed
26    health professional, or unlicensed mental health professional
27    knows  or  has  reason  to believe that the patient or former
28    patient is unable to withhold consent to  sexual  contact  by
29    the   psychotherapist,  unlicensed  health  professional,  or
                            -2-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    unlicensed mental health professional.
 2        (b)  "Former  patient"  means  a  person  who  was  given
 3    psychotherapy within 1 year prior to sexual contact with  the
 4    psychotherapist  or  who obtained a professional consultation
 5    or diagnostic  or  therapeutic  service  from  an  unlicensed
 6    health  professional or unlicensed mental health professional
 7    within one year prior to sexual contact with  the  unlicensed
 8    health professional or unlicensed mental health professional.
 9        (c)  "Patient"  means  a  person  who  seeks  or  obtains
10    psychotherapy  or  who obtains a professional consultation or
11    diagnostic or therapeutic service from an  unlicensed  health
12    professional or unlicensed mental health professional.
13        (d)  "Psychotherapist"  means  a physician, psychologist,
14    nurse, chemical dependency counselor, social worker, or other
15    person, whether or not licensed by the State, who performs or
16    purports to perform psychotherapy.
17        (e)  "Psychotherapy" means  the  professional  treatment,
18    assessment,  or  counseling of a mental or emotional illness,
19    symptom, or condition.    "Psychotherapy"  does  not  include
20    counseling  of  a spiritual or religious nature, social work,
21    or casual advice given by a friend or family member.
22        (f)  "Sexual contact" means any of the following, whether
23    or not occurring with the consent  of  a  patient  or  former
24    patient:
25        (1)  sexual   intercourse,  cunnilingus,  fellatio,  anal
26    intercourse  or  any  intrusion,  however  slight,  into  the
27    genital or anal openings of the patient's or former patient's
28    body by any part of the psychotherapist's, unlicensed  health
29    professional's,  or  unlicensed  mental health professional's
30    body or by any object used by the psychotherapist, unlicensed
31    health professional, or unlicensed mental health professional
32    for that purpose, or any intrusion, however slight, into  the
33    genital or anal openings of the psychotherapist's, unlicensed
34    health    professional's,   or   unlicensed   mental   health
                            -3-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    professional's body by any part of the  patient's  or  former
 2    patient's body or by any object used by the patient or former
 3    patient   for   that   purpose,   if   agreed   to   by   the
 4    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
 5    unlicensed mental health professional;
 6        (2)  kissing   or    intentional    touching    by    the
 7    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
 8    unlicensed mental health professional  of  the  patient's  or
 9    former  patient's genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks,
10    or breast or the clothing covering any of these body parts;
11        (3)  kissing or intentional touching by  the  patient  or
12    former  patient  of  the psychotherapist's, unlicensed health
13    professional's, or unlicensed  mental  health  professional's
14    genital  area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast or the
15    clothing  covering  any  of   these   body   parts   if   the
16    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
17    unlicensed mental health professional agrees to  the  kissing
18    or intentional touching.
19        "Sexual    contact"    includes    a   request   by   the
20    psychotherapist,   unlicensed   health    professional,    or
21    unlicensed  mental  health professional for conduct described
22    in paragraphs (1) through (3).
23        "Sexual contact" does not include  conduct  described  in
24    paragraph  (1)  or  (2)  that  is  a part of standard medical
25    treatment of a patient, casual social contact not intended to
26    be sexual in character, or inadvertent touching.
27        (g)  "Therapeutic deception" means a representation by  a
28    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
29    unlicensed mental health  professional  that  sexual  contact
30    with  the psychotherapist, unlicensed health professional, or
31    unlicensed mental health professional is consistent  with  or
32    part of the patient's or former patient's treatment.
33        (h)  "Unlicensed  health professional" means a person who
34    is not licensed or registered to provide health  services  by
                            -4-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    the  Department  of  Professional  Regulation  or  a board of
 2    registration   duly   authorized   to   grant   licenses   or
 3    registration to persons engaged in the practice of  providing
 4    health  services  or whose license or registration to provide
 5    health  services  has  been  returned  or  revoked   by   the
 6    Department or that board.
 7        (i)  "Unlicensed  mental  health  professional"  means  a
 8    person  who  is  not licensed or registered to provide mental
 9    health services by the Department of Professional  Regulation
10    or  a board of registration duly authorized to grant licenses
11    or  registration  to  persons  engaged  in  the  practice  of
12    providing  mental  health  services  or  whose   license   or
13    registration  to  provide  mental  health  services  has been
14    returned or revoked by the Department or that board.
15    (Source: P.A. 85-1254.)
16        (740 ILCS 140/2) (from Ch. 70, par. 802)
17        Sec. 2.  Cause of action for sexual exploitation.  (a)  A
18    cause of action against a psychotherapist, unlicensed  health
19    professional,  or  unlicensed  mental health professional for
20    sexual exploitation exists for a patient  or  former  patient
21    for injury caused by sexual contact with the psychotherapist,
22    unlicensed  health  professional, or unlicensed mental health
23    professional, if the sexual contact occurred:
24        (1)  during  the  period  the   patient   was   receiving
25    psychotherapy  from  the  psychotherapist, or health services
26    from the unlicensed health  professional,  or  mental  health
27    services from the unlicensed mental health professional; or
28        (2)  after  the period the patient received psychotherapy
29    from  the  psychotherapist,  or  health  services  from   the
30    unlicensed  health  professional,  or  mental health services
31    from the unlicensed mental health  professional  if  (i)  the
32    former    patient    was   emotionally   dependent   on   the
33    psychotherapist,   unlicensed   health    professional,    or
                            -5-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    unlicensed  mental  health  professional   or (ii) the sexual
 2    contact occurred by means of therapeutic deception.
 3        (b)  The patient or former patient  may  recover  damages
 4    from  a  psychotherapist,  unlicensed health professional, or
 5    unlicensed mental health professional who is found liable for
 6    sexual exploitation.  It is not a defense to the action  that
 7    sexual  contact  with a patient occurred outside a therapy or
 8    treatment session  or  that  it  occurred  off  the  premises
 9    regularly  used  by  the  psychotherapist,  unlicensed health
10    professional, or unlicensed mental  health  professional  for
11    therapy or treatment sessions.
12        (c)  Whenever  the Attorney General has probable cause to
13    believe  (i)  that  a  psychotherapist,   unlicensed   health
14    professional,  or  unlicensed  mental  health professional is
15    having or has had sexual contact with one or more patients or
16    clients or  former  patients  or  former  clients  while  the
17    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
18    unlicensed  mental  health  professional  was   licensed   or
19    unlicensed  and  (ii)  that  the  psychotherapist, unlicensed
20    health professional, or unlicensed mental health professional
21    poses a threat to the health, safety, or welfare  of  members
22    of  the  public  who are or may be patients or clients of the
23    psychotherapist,   unlicensed   health    professional,    or
24    unlicensed  mental  health professional, the Attorney General
25    may bring an action in the name  of  the  State  against  the
26    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
27    unlicensed  mental  health  professional   to   restrain   by
28    temporary  restraining  order  or  preliminary  or  permanent
29    injunction    the    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health
30    professional,  or  unlicensed mental health professional from
31    providing, offering to provide, or  representing  himself  or
32    herself  as  being  able  to  provide  psychotherapy,  health
33    services, or mental health services.
34        At  least  5 days prior to the commencement of any action
                            -6-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    brought  under  this  Section,  except   when   a   temporary
 2    restraining  order  is  sought,  the  Attorney  General shall
 3    notify the psychotherapist, unlicensed  health  professional,
 4    or  unlicensed  mental  health  professional  of the Attorney
 5    General's intended action and shall give the psychotherapist,
 6    unlicensed health professional, or unlicensed  mental  health
 7    professional  an  opportunity  to  confer  with  the Attorney
 8    General or his or her representative in person or by  counsel
 9    or other representative as to the proposed action.
10        The  notice  shall  be given by first-class mail, postage
11    prepaid,  to   the   psychotherapist's,   unlicensed   health
12    professional's,  or  unlicensed  mental health professional's
13    usual place of business or, if that person has no usual place
14    of business, to that person's last known address.
15        (d)  The action may be  brought  either  in  the  circuit
16    court  of  the  county  in  which  the  conduct complained of
17    occurred or in the circuit court of the county in  which  the
18    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
19    unlicensed mental health professional resides or has  his  or
20    her principal place of business.
21        The  court  may  issue  temporary  restraining  orders or
22    preliminary or permanent injunctions and make other orders or
23    judgments it deems appropriate.
24        (e)  No injunction shall be  issued  under  this  Section
25    unless  the  court  finds  that  the  defendant  has  had  an
26    opportunity  for  an  evidentiary hearing as to all contested
27    material  issues  of  fact.   Issues  decided  in   a   prior
28    evidentiary  hearing  in  a  court  or  in  an administrative
29    proceeding may be applied to a proceeding under this  Section
30    in compliance with the Code of Civil Procedure.
31        If   the   court   issues   an   injunction   against   a
32    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
33    unlicensed mental health professional under this Section, the
34    court shall retain jurisdiction of the matter and  the  cause
                            -7-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    shall  be  continued.  Any psychotherapist, unlicensed health
 2    professional, or unlicensed mental health professional who is
 3    ordered to refrain from certain conduct or activities  in  an
 4    action  brought under this Section may petition the court for
 5    a modification or termination of the injunction upon 10  days
 6    notice to the Attorney General.
 7        (f)  Any State's Attorney or other law enforcement office
 8    receiving  notice of any alleged violation of this Section or
 9    violation of an injunction  or  order  issued  in  an  action
10    brought  under this Section shall immediately forward written
11    notice of the alleged violation together with any information
12    that the State's Attorney or other law enforcement office may
13    have to the office of the Attorney General.
14        (g)  In an action brought under  this  Section,  whenever
15    the   court   issues  a  temporary  restraining  order  or  a
16    preliminary or permanent injunction ordering a  defendant  to
17    refrain  from  certain conduct or activities, the order shall
18    contain the following statement:
19           VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
20        The clerk shall transmit 2 certified copies of each  such
21    order  issued  under  this  Section  to  each appropriate law
22    enforcement agency having jurisdiction over  locations  where
23    the  defendant  is  alleged  to have committed the act giving
24    rise to the action, and  the  law  enforcement  agency  shall
25    serve  one  copy  of  the  order  on  the  defendant.  Unless
26    otherwise  ordered  by  the  court,  service  shall   be   by
27    delivering a copy in hand to the defendant.
28        After  any  such  order has been served on the defendant,
29    any violation of the order by the  defendant  is  a  Class  4
30    felony punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000.
31        Law   enforcement  agencies  shall  establish  procedures
32    adequate to ensure that  all  officers  responsible  for  the
33    enforcement  of  an  order  entered  under  this  Section are
34    informed of the existence and terms of the  order.   Whenever
                            -8-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    any  law  enforcement  officer  has probable cause to believe
 2    that a defendant has violated the provisions of this Section,
 3    the officer has the authority to arrest the defendant.
 4        Whenever the court vacates a temporary restraining  order
 5    or  a  preliminary  or permanent injunction issued under this
 6    Section, the clerk shall  promptly  notify  in  writing  each
 7    appropriate  law enforcement agency that has been notified of
 8    the issuance of the order and shall direct each  such  agency
 9    to  destroy  all  records  of  the  vacated  order.   The law
10    enforcement agency shall comply with that directive.
11        (h)  Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the
12    Attorney General in his or her discretion  from  bringing  an
13    action  for  civil contempt against the defendant rather than
14    bringing criminal charges for  an  alleged  violation  of  an
15    order  issued  under  this  Section as provided in subsection
16    (g).  If the court finds that a  psychotherapist,  unlicensed
17    health professional, or unlicensed mental health professional
18    is  in civil contempt by reason of an alleged violation of an
19    injunction or the order entered under this Section, the court
20    shall assess a civil penalty of not  more  than  $10,000  for
21    each such violation found.
22    (Source: P.A. 85-1254.)
23        (740 ILCS 140/3) (from Ch. 70, par. 803)
24        Sec.  3.   Liability  of  employer.   An  employer  of  a
25    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
26    unlicensed mental health professional  may  be  liable  under
27    Section 2 if the employer fails or refuses to take reasonable
28    action when the employer knows or has reason to know that the
29    psychotherapist,    unlicensed    health   professional,   or
30    unlicensed  mental  health  professional  engaged  in  sexual
31    contact with the plaintiff or any  other  patient  or  former
32    patient    of    the   psychotherapist,   unlicensed   health
33    professional, or unlicensed mental health professional.
                            -9-                LRB9003870DJcd
 1    (Source: P.A. 85-1254.)
 2        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
 3    becoming law.

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