Bill > HB0217

This bill, titled the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, aims to safeguard individuals under 18 from harmful practices by defining "mental health provider" as licensed professionals and those assisting them, and "sexual orientation change efforts" or "conversion therapy" as any practice seeking to alter an individual's sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors or eliminate same-sex attractions, while excluding supportive counseling or services that facilitate gender identity exploration. The bill explicitly prohibits mental health providers from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with minors and from referring patients for such practices. Any attempt to conduct conversion therapy on a minor or any referral made by a mental health provider for such services will be considered unprofessional conduct, subject to disciplinary action by the relevant licensing or review board. Additionally, the bill amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make violations of Section 25 of the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, which addresses deceptive advertising of conversion therapy, an unlawful practice.