Signed by Governor John Carney, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the practice known as conversion therapy.

Highlights:

• Defines “conversion therapy” as any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that conversion therapy does not mean any of the following (Sec. 2):

• Counseling that provides assistance to an individual who is seeking to undergo a gender transition or who is in the process of undergoing a gender transition;

• Counseling that provides an individual with acceptance, support, and understanding without seeking to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity; or

• Counseling that facilitates an individual’s coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including counseling in the form of sexual orientation-neutral interventions or gender identity-neutral interventions provides for the purpose of preventing or addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Prohibits an individual practicing psychology in this state to engage in conversion therapy with a child or refer a child to a provider in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy (Sec. 9).

• Requires that a practitioner licensed or registered is to be subject to disciplinary actions if, after a hearing, the Board finds that the psychologist or psychological assistant (Sec. 10):

• Has engaged in conversion therapy with a child; or

• Has referred a child to a provider in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy.

• Specifies that “unprofessional conduct” includes any of the following acts or omissions (Sec. 3):

• Engaging in conversion therapy with a child; and

• Referring a child to a provider in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy.

• Authorizes the Board to impose any of the following sanctions singly or in combination when it finds a licensee or former licensee is guilty of any offense described herein, except that the license of any licensee who is convicted of a felony sexual offense to be permanently revoked (Sec. 5):

• Has engaged in conversion therapy with a child; or

• Has referred a child to a provider in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy.

Full Bill Text