SB3575 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 19488 ZMM 54660 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3575

Introduced 2/14/2014, by Sen. William Delgado

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 15/14.5 new
225 ILCS 20/18.5 new
225 ILCS 55/84 new
225 ILCS 107/79 new

Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act, Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act, and Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act. In each Act, defines "sexual orientation change efforts" and provides that a professional licensed under the Act shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient younger than 18 years of age. Further provides in each Act that any sexual orientation change efforts attempted on a patient younger than 18 years of age shall be grounds for discipline under the Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act is amended by adding Section 14.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 15/14.5 new)

Sec. 14.5. Sexual orientation change efforts. Under no circumstances shall a clinical psychologist engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient younger than 18 years of age. Any sexual orientation change efforts attempted on a patient younger than 18 years of age by a clinical psychologist shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be grounds for discipline under this Act. For the purposes of this Section, "sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards persons of the same gender. "Sexual orientation change efforts" does not include counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual orientation, or counseling that facilitates a person's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual orientation.

Section 10. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act is amended by adding Section 18.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 20/18.5 new)

Sec. 18.5. Sexual orientation change efforts. Under no circumstances shall a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient younger than 18 years of age. Any sexual orientation change efforts attempted on a patient younger than 18 years of age by a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be grounds for discipline under this Act. For the purposes of this subsection, "sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards persons of the same gender. "Sexual orientation change efforts" does not include counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual orientation, or counseling that facilitates a person's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual orientation.

Section 15. The Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act is amended by adding Section 84 as follows:

(225 ILCS 55/84 new)

Sec. 84. Sexual orientation change efforts. Under no circumstances shall a marriage and family therapist engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient younger than 18 years of age. Any sexual orientation change efforts attempted on a patient younger than 18 years of age by a marriage and family therapist shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be grounds for discipline under this Act. For the purposes of this subsection, "sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards persons of the same gender. "Sexual orientation change efforts" does not include counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual orientation, or counseling that facilitates a person's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual orientation.

Section 20. The Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act is amended adding Section 79 as follows:

(225 ILCS 107/79 new)

Sec. 79. Sexual orientation change efforts. Under no circumstances shall a professional counselor or clinical professional counselor engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient younger than 18 years of age. Any sexual orientation change efforts attempted on a patient younger than 18 years of age by a professional counselor or clinical professional counselor shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be grounds for discipline under this Act. For the purposes of this subsection, "sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards persons of the same gender. "Sexual orientation change efforts" does not include counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual orientation, or counseling that facilitates a person's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual orientation.