Florida Senate - 2014                                     SB 240
       
       
        
       By Senator Clemens
       
       
       
       
       
       27-00234-14                                            2014240__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to sexual orientation change therapy;
    3         creating ss. 458.3166, 459.032, 490.0142, and
    4         491.0142, F.S.; defining the term “sexual orientation
    5         change therapy”; prohibiting a person who is licensed
    6         under ch. 458, ch. 459, ch. 490, or ch. 491, F.S.,
    7         from providing sexual orientation change therapy to a
    8         person who is younger than 18 years of age; providing
    9         an effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 458.3166, Florida Statutes, is created
   14  to read:
   15         458.3166 Sexual orientation change therapy.—
   16         (1) As used in this section, the term “sexual orientation
   17  change therapy” means therapy that seeks to change a person’s
   18  sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to
   19  change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions, or to
   20  reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings
   21  toward a person of the same gender. The term does not include
   22  counseling:
   23         (a) Provided to a person seeking to transition from one
   24  gender to the other; or
   25         (b) That provides acceptance, support, and understanding of
   26  a person or facilitates a person’s coping, social support, and
   27  identity exploration and development, including sexual
   28  orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful
   29  conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
   30         (2) A person who is licensed under this chapter may not
   31  provide sexual orientation change therapy to a person who is
   32  younger than 18 years of age.
   33         Section 2. Section 459.032, Florida Statutes, is created to
   34  read:
   35         459.032 Sexual orientation change therapy.—
   36         (1) As used in this section, the term “sexual orientation
   37  change therapy” means therapy that seeks to change a person’s
   38  sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to
   39  change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions, or to
   40  reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings
   41  toward a person of the same gender. The term does not include
   42  counseling:
   43         (a) Provided to a person seeking to transition from one
   44  gender to the other; or
   45         (b) That provides acceptance, support, and understanding of
   46  a person or facilitates a person’s coping, social support, and
   47  identity exploration and development, including sexual
   48  orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful
   49  conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
   50         (2) A person who is licensed under this chapter may not
   51  provide sexual orientation change therapy to a person who is
   52  younger than 18 years of age.
   53         Section 3. Section 490.0142, Florida Statutes, is created
   54  to read:
   55         490.0142 Sexual orientation change therapy.—
   56         (1) As used in this section, the term “sexual orientation
   57  change therapy” means therapy that seeks to change a person’s
   58  sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to
   59  change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions, or to
   60  reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings
   61  toward a person of the same gender. The term does not include
   62  counseling:
   63         (a) Provided to a person seeking to transition from one
   64  gender to the other; or
   65         (b) That provides acceptance, support, and understanding of
   66  a person or facilitates a person’s coping, social support, and
   67  identity exploration and development, including sexual
   68  orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful
   69  conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
   70         (2) A person who is licensed under this chapter may not
   71  provide sexual orientation change therapy to a person who is
   72  younger than 18 years of age.
   73         Section 4. Section 491.0142, Florida Statutes, is created
   74  to read:
   75         491.0142 Sexual orientation change therapy.—
   76         (1) As used in this section, the term “sexual orientation
   77  change therapy” means therapy that seeks to change a person’s
   78  sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to
   79  change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions, or to
   80  reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings
   81  toward a person of the same gender. The term does not include
   82  counseling:
   83         (a) Provided to a person seeking to transition from one
   84  gender to the other; or
   85         (b) That provides acceptance, support, and understanding of
   86  a person or facilitates a person’s coping, social support, and
   87  identity exploration and development, including sexual
   88  orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful
   89  conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
   90         (2) A person who is licensed under this chapter may not
   91  provide sexual orientation change therapy to a person who is
   92  younger than 18 years of age.
   93         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.