Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes religious protections for councilors and therapists in the state of Idaho.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any person practicing professional counseling or marriage and family therapy to be required to provide counseling that doesn’t align with their sincerely held religious, moral or ethical principles (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes the declination to provide counseling or therapy to not be on the basis of: 

• A civil cause of action; 

• Criminal prosecution; or 

• Disciplinary actions. 

• Specifies that the right to decline counseling or therapy is limited to conscience based objections to particular goals, outcomes, or behaviors intended by particular types of therapy (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that actions considered lawful but that may be considered violations of any counseling association code of ethics shall not be grounds for the board to discipline professional counselors (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes a counselor or therapist declaratory or injunctive relief (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes the effective date as July, 1 2024 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text