Text of NJ S 2278 (2013)

SENATE, No. 2278 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 215th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED OCTOBER 15, 2012 Sponsored by: Senator RAYMOND J. LESNIAK District 20 (Union) Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem) Senator LORETTA WEINBERG District 37 (Bergen) SYNOPSIS Protects minors by prohibiting counseling attempts to change sexual orientation. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Act concerning the protection of minors from counseling attempts to change sexual orientation and supplementing Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. A person who is licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or a person who performs counseling as part of the person's professional training for any of these professions, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under 18 years of age. b. As used in this section, "sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual persuasion, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender; except that sexual orientation change efforts shall not include counseling that: (1) provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a person's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual persuasion-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices; and (2) does not seek to change sexual persuasion. 2. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill prohibits counseling to change the sexual orientation of a minor. Under the provisions of the bill, a person who is licensed to provide professional counseling, including, but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or a person who performs counseling as part of the person's professional training, is prohibited from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under 18 years of age. The bill defines "sexual orientation change efforts" as the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual persuasion, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender. The term, however, does not include counseling that: provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a person's coping, social support, identity exploration and development, including sexual persuasion-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices; and does not seek to change sexual persuasion.