Bill Text: CT HB06695 | 2017 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Protection Of Youth From Conversion Therapy.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-05-18 - Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor [HB06695 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2017-HB06695-Comm_Sub.html

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General Assembly		Committee Bill No. 6695
January Session, 2017		LCO No. 5450
		*05450HB06695PH_*
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
(PH)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF YOUTH FROM CONVERSION THERAPY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) As used in this section and sections 2 to 4, inclusive, of this act:

(1) "Conversion therapy" means any practice or treatment administered to a person under eighteen years of age that seeks to change the person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, any effort to change gender expression or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward persons of the same gender. "Conversion therapy" does not include counseling intended to (A) assist a person undergoing gender transition, (B) provide acceptance, support and understanding to the person, or (C) facilitate the person's coping, social support or identity exploration and development, including, but not limited to, any therapeutic intervention that is neutral with regard to sexual orientation and seeks to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, provided such counseling does not seek to change the person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

(2) "Health care provider" means a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, as defined in section 20-1 of the general statutes, an occupational therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 376a of the general statutes, an alcohol and drug counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 376b of the general statutes or certified pursuant to section 20-74s of the general statutes, a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 378 of the general statutes, a nurse's aide registered pursuant to chapter 378a of the general statutes, a behavior analyst licensed pursuant to chapter 382a of the general statutes, a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 383 of the general statutes, a marriage and family therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 383a of the general statutes, a clinical social worker or master clinical social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 383b of the general statutes, a professional counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 383c of the general statutes, a genetic counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 383d of the general statutes, a pharmacist licensed pursuant to chapter 400j of the general statutes, a hypnotist registered with the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to chapter 400m of the general statutes or any person licensed, certified or registered under comparable provisions of law outside of the state but providing professional services under such license or registration in the state.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) No health care provider shall engage in conversion therapy.

(b) Any conversion therapy practiced by a health care provider shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be grounds for disciplinary action under section 19a-17 of the general statutes, including, but not limited to, suspension or revocation of the professional's license, certification or registration to practice his or her profession.

(c) Nothing in sections 1 to 4, inclusive, of this act shall prevent a national certifying body that certifies any licensed professional from acting in response to a complaint that a licensed professional has engaged in conversion therapy.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in trade or commerce to provide conversion therapy.

(b) A violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be considered an unfair or deceptive trade practice pursuant to section 42-110b of the general statutes and shall be subject to the same enforcement, liabilities and penalties as set forth in sections 42-110a to 42-110q, inclusive, of the general statutes.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) No public funds, as defined in section 9-601, shall be expended for the purpose of (1) practicing conversion therapy, (2) referring a person to a health care provider for conversion therapy, (3) referring any individual to any person engaged in trade or commerce for conversion therapy, (4) health benefits coverage for conversion therapy, or (5) a grant or contract with any entity to conduct conversion therapy or refer any person to a health care provider for conversion therapy or to a person engaged in trade or commerce to provide conversion therapy.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	New section
Sec. 2	from passage	New section
Sec. 3	from passage	New section
Sec. 4	from passage	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To protect youth from conversion therapy.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]

Co-Sponsors:

REP. CURREY, 11th Dist.; SEN. BYE, 5th Dist. REP. GODFREY, 110th Dist.; REP. LINEHAN, 103rd Dist. REP. RILEY, 46th Dist.; REP. ALBIS, 99th Dist. REP. RITTER M., 1st Dist.; REP. MORIN, 28th Dist. REP. GENGA, 10th Dist.; REP. STEINBERG, 136th Dist. REP. HADDAD, 54th Dist.; REP. SIMMONS, 144th Dist. REP. RYAN, 139th Dist.; REP. ROJAS, 9th Dist. REP. TERCYAK, 26th Dist.; REP. BARAM, 15th Dist. REP. LESSER, 100th Dist.; REP. SOTO, 39th Dist. REP. PORTER, 94th Dist.; REP. MCCARTHY VAHEY, 133rd Dist. REP. SANTIAGO, 84th Dist.; REP. HENNESSY, 127th Dist. REP. STAFSTROM, 129th Dist.; REP. ROSE, 118th Dist. REP. ROVERO, 51st Dist.; REP. SANTIAGO, 130th Dist. REP. LEMAR, 96th Dist.; REP. WINKLER, 56th Dist. REP. SLAP, 19th Dist.; REP. ELLIOTT, 88th Dist. REP. DIMASSA, 116th Dist.; REP. ZIOGAS, 79th Dist. REP. SCANLON, 98th Dist.; REP. GRESKO, 121st Dist. REP. CONLEY, 40th Dist.; REP. ROSARIO, 128th Dist. REP. PAOLILLO, 97th Dist.; REP. JOHNSON, 49th Dist. SEN. WINFIELD, 10th Dist.; SEN. SLOSSBERG, 14th Dist. REP. WALKER, 93rd Dist.; REP. REED, 102nd Dist. REP. KUPCHICK, 132nd Dist.; REP. LUXENBERG, 12th Dist. REP. TONG, 147th Dist.; REP. ABERCROMBIE, 83rd Dist. REP. ARCONTI, 109th Dist.; REP. DILLON, 92nd Dist. REP. D'AGOSTINO, 91st Dist.; REP. ARCE, 4th Dist. REP. GENTILE, 104th Dist.; REP. REYES, 75th Dist. REP. COOK, 65th Dist.; REP. HAMPTON, 16th Dist. REP. VARGAS, 6th Dist.; REP. CANDELARIA, 95th Dist. REP. LOPES, 24th Dist.; REP. STALLWORTH, 126th Dist. REP. ZIOBRON, 34th Dist.; SEN. CASSANO, 4th Dist. REP. STANESKI, 119th Dist.; SEN. MOORE, 22nd Dist. REP. ARESIMOWICZ, 30th Dist.; REP. LAVIELLE, 143rd Dist. REP. KLARIDES-DITRIA, 105th Dist.; REP. CARNEY, 23rd Dist. REP. KLARIDES, 114th Dist.; SEN. DUFF, 25th Dist. REP. DEMICCO, 21st Dist.; SEN. GERRATANA, 6th Dist. REP. KOKORUDA, 101st Dist.; REP. CARPINO, 32nd Dist. SEN. BOUCHER, 26th Dist.; SEN. LEONE, 27th Dist. REP. CUMMINGS, 74th Dist.; REP. SIEGRIST, 36th Dist.

H.B. 6695