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.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to prohibit
7the use of sexual orientation change efforts, also known as
8conversion therapy, by mental health providers licensed by or
9practicing in the State of Illinois
 
10    Section 10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
11    "Mental health provider" means a clinical psychologist
12licensed under the Clinical Psychology Licensing Act; a school
13psychologist as defined in the School Code; a psychiatrist as
14defined in Section 1-121 of the Mental Health and Developmental
15Disabilities Code; a clinical social worker or social worker
16licensed under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work
17Practice Act; a marriage and family therapist or associate
18marriage and family therapist licensed under the Marriage and
19Family Therapy Licensing Act; a professional counselor or
20clinical professional counselor licensed under the
21Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor
22Licensing and Practice Act; or any students, interns,

 

 

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1volunteers, or other persons assisting or acting under the
2direction or guidance of any of these licensed professionals.
3    "Sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion
4therapy" means any practices or treatments that seek to change
5an individual's sexual orientation, including efforts to
6change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or
7reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards
8individuals of the same sex. "Sexual orientation change
9efforts" or "conversion therapy" does not include counseling or
10mental health services that provide acceptance, support, and
11understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual
12persuasion or orientation or mental health services that
13facilitate a person's coping, social support, and gender
14identity exploration and development, including sexual
15persuasion neutral interventions to prevent or address
16unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to
17change sexual persuasion or orientation.
 
18    Section 15. Prohibition on conversion therapy. Under no
19circumstances shall a mental health provider engage in sexual
20orientation change efforts with a person under the age of 18.
 
21    Section 20. Discipline. Any sexual orientation change
22effort attempted on a person under the age of 18 by a mental
23health provider shall be considered unprofessional conduct.
24Mental health providers found to have engaged in a sexual

 

 

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1orientation change effort shall be disciplined by the licensing
2entity or disciplinary review board with competent
3jurisdiction.