Mental Health Providers Conduct

This bill will update a part of the Occupations Code with a focus bad behavior by mental health providers who are trying to change a child's sexual orientation.

• Texas Occupations Code:A rulebook in Texas that explains the laws for different jobs, like doctors, teachers, and builders, and what they need to do to be able to work.

• Mental health providers: people whose job it is to give people mental health support.

• Sexual Orientation: who a person loves or is attracted to, like boys liking girls, girls liking boys, or people liking the same gender.

• This bill:

  • Changes the definition of "Health care provider" to include folks with a special license to offer therapy or counseling.

  • Adds a new part specifically about bad behavior by mental health providers.

  • Defines "Child" as anyone younger than 18 years old.

  • Defines "Gender identity or expression" as the gender a person feels they are or how they act, no matter what sex they were said to be when they were born.

  • Says "Mental health provider" includes many different kinds of professionals with a license.

• If this bill passes, a mental health provider is considered to be unprofessional if they try to:

  • Change a child's sexual orientation or behavior, or 

  • Ignore or make light of a child’s same-sex attractions or feelings.

• There are some exceptions for counseling that:

  • Offers acceptance and support without trying to change sexual orientation or how a child feels about their gender, or

  • Helps kids going through gender transition based on rules for care called “care standards.”

• If this bill passes, mental health providers doing things they’re not supposed to face punishment from the state of Texas

• If this bill is passed, the changes will kick in on September 1, 2025.