Text of GA SB 519 (2024)

24 LC 52 0456 Senate Bill 519 By: Senators Watson of the 1st, Gooch of the 51st, Summers of the 13th, Harbin of the 16th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 1 relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to prohibit prescribing or 2 administering certain hormone replacement therapies and puberty blocking medications for 3 certain purposes to minors; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code 4 of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Composite Medical Board, so as to prohibit 5 prescribing or administering certain hormone replacement therapies and puberty blocking 6 medications for the treatment of gender dysphoria for certain purposes; to provide for 7 exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. 8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 9 SECTION 1. 10 Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to 11 regulation of hospitals and related institutions, is amended by revising Code 12 Section 31-7-3.5, relating to treatment of minors for gender dysphoria and penalty for 13 violations, as follows: 14 S. B. 519 - 1 - 24 LC 52 0456 "31-7-3.5. 15 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, none of the following 16 irreversible procedures or irreversible or reversible therapies shall be performed on a minor 17 for the treatment of gender dysphoria or prescribed or administered to a minor if such 18 procedure or therapy is performed or prescribed or administered for the purpose of 19 attempting to alter the appearance of or affirm the minor's perception of his or her gender 20 or sex if that appearance or perception is inconsistent with the minor's sex in an institution 21 licensed pursuant to this article: 22 (1) Sex reassignment surgeries, or any other surgical procedures, that are performed for 23 the purpose of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics; or 24 (2) Hormone replacement therapies that are prescribed or administered for the purpose 25 of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics or puberty blocking medications 26 that are prescribed or administered for the purpose of delaying or suppressing puberty. 27 (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to treatment 28 provided pursuant to an exception contained in subsection (b) of Code Section 43-34-15. 29 (c) The department shall establish sanctions, by rule and regulation, for violations of this 30 Code section up to and including the revocation of an institution's permit issued pursuant 31 to Code Section 31-7-3." 32 SECTION 2. 33 Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the 34 Georgia Composite Medical Board, is amended by revising Code Section 43-34-15, relating 35 to prohibition on certain therapies and procedures for treatment of gender dysphoria in 36 minors, regulations, exceptions, and accountability, as follows: 37 S. B. 519 - 2 - 24 LC 52 0456 "43-34-15. 38 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the following 39 irreversible procedures and irreversible or reversible therapies performed on a minor for 40 the treatment of gender dysphoria or prescribed or administered to a minor if such 41 procedure or therapy is performed or prescribed or administered for the purpose of 42 attempting to alter the appearance of or affirm the minor's perception of his or her gender 43 or sex if that appearance or perception is inconsistent with the minor's sex are prohibited 44 in this state: 45 (1) Sex reassignment surgeries, or any other surgical procedures, that are performed for 46 the purpose of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics; and 47 (2) Hormone replacement therapies that are prescribed or administered for the purpose 48 of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics or puberty blocking medications 49 that are prescribed or administered for the purpose of delaying or suppressing puberty. 50 (b) The board shall adopt rules and regulations regarding the prohibitions contained in 51 subsection (a) of this Code section, which shall contain limited exceptions for: 52 (1) Treatments for medical conditions other than gender dysphoria or for the purpose of 53 sex reassignment where such treatments are deemed medically necessary; 54 (2) Treatments for individuals born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex 55 development, including individuals born with ambiguous genitalia or chromosomal 56 abnormalities resulting in ambiguity regarding the individual's biological sex; 57 (3) Treatments for individuals with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome; and 58 (4) Continued treatment of minors who are, prior to July 1, 2023, being treated with 59 irreversible hormone replacement therapies; and 60 (5) Continued treatment of minors who are, prior to July 1, 2024, being treated with 61 puberty blocking medication and receiving counseling on the risks, medical 62 complications, and irreversible and reversible outcomes of such medication. 63 S. B. 519 - 3 - 24 LC 52 0456 (c) A licensed physician who violates this Code section shall be held administratively 64 accountable to the board for such violation." 65 SECTION 3. 66 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. 67 S. B. 519 - 4 -