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.