Senate File 74 - Introduced SENATE FILE 74 BY McCOY A BILL FOR An Act relating to sexual orientation change efforts and making 1 penalties applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1438XS (2) 87 pf/nh
S.F. 74 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 135.191 Sexual orientation change 1 efforts. 2 1. For the purposes of this division, unless the context 3 otherwise requires: 4 a. “Mental health provider” means a physician and surgeon or 5 osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed under chapter 148 6 who specializes in the practice of psychiatry; a psychologist 7 licensed under chapter 154B; a licensed marital and family 8 therapist or mental health counselor or a temporary licensed 9 marital and family therapist or mental health counselor as 10 defined in section 154D.1; a social worker licensed pursuant to 11 chapter 154C; a licensed school counselor, school psychologist, 12 or school social worker; or an advanced registered nurse 13 practitioner, a psychiatric nurse, or any other person who 14 provides counseling or mental health or behavioral health 15 services as a part of the person’s professional training or 16 practice under Iowa law or rule, or any student, intern, 17 volunteer, or other person assisting or acting under the 18 direction or guidance of any of these professionals. 19 b. “Patient” means an individual who is under the care of a 20 mental health provider. 21 c. (1) “Sexual orientation change efforts” means any 22 practice by a mental health provider that seeks to change an 23 individual’s sexual orientation, including but not limited 24 to efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or 25 gender identity, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic 26 attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. 27 (2) “Sexual orientation change efforts” does not include any 28 of the following: 29 (a) Counseling or therapy that provides acceptance, 30 support, and understanding of the individual or the 31 facilitation of an individual’s coping, social support, 32 and identity exploration and development, including sexual 33 orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address 34 unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices. 35 -1- LSB 1438XS (2) 87 pf/nh 1/ 2
S.F. 74 (b) Psychotherapies that do not seek to change sexual 1 orientation. 2 (c) Counseling for an individual seeking to transition from 3 one gender to another. 4 2. A mental health provider shall not engage in sexual 5 orientation change efforts with a patient under eighteen years 6 of age. 7 3. A mental health provider who engages in sexual 8 orientation change efforts with a patient under eighteen years 9 of age shall be subject to disciplinary action by the licensing 10 entity or disciplinary authority with professional jurisdiction 11 over the mental health provider. 12 EXPLANATION 13 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 14 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 15 This bill prohibits a mental health provider from engaging 16 in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient under 18 17 years of age. The bill provides that a mental health provider 18 who engages in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient 19 under 18 years of age is subject to disciplinary action by the 20 entity or disciplinary authority with professional jurisdiction 21 over the mental health provider. 22 -2- LSB 1438XS (2) 87 pf/nh 2/ 2