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REFERENCE TITLE: conversion therapy; prohibition; sexual orientation |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022
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HB 2824 |
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Introduced by Representative Chávez
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AN ACT
Amending title 32, chapter 32, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 32-3230; relating to health professionals.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 32, chapter 32, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-3230, to read:
32-3230. Conversion therapy; unprofessional conduct; definitions
A. It is an act of unprofessional conduct for a psychotherapist to provide any conversion therapy to a person who is under eighteen years of age regardless of the willingness of the person or the person's parent or legal guardian to authorize the conversion therapy. The psychotherapist is subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate health profession regulatory board for violating this subsection.
B. A health profession regulatory board may not authorize a religious exemption to the prohibition prescribed in subsection A of this section.
C. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Conversion therapy":
(a) Means any practice or treatment that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person, including a practice or treatment that seeks to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward persons of the same gender.
(b) Does not include a practice or treatment that either:
(i) Provides assistance to a person who is undergoing gender transition.
(ii) Provides acceptance of and support and understanding to a person, facilitates a person's ability to cope or provides social support and identity exploration and development to a person, including an intervention to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices that is neutral as to and does not seek to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of the person receiving the intervention.
2. "Psychotherapist" means any of the following:
(a) A physician who is licensed pursuant to chapter 13 of this title and who specializes in the practice of psychiatry.
(b) A homeopathic physician who is licensed pursuant to chapter 29 of this title.
(c) A psychologist who is licensed pursuant to chapter 19.1 of this title.
(d) A behavioral health professional who is licensed pursuant to chapter 33 of this title.