Texas Bill Authorizing Mental Health Providers to Offer Services Based on Their Religious Beliefs (HB 4357)

HB 4357 would protect mental health workers from being subject to disciplinary action or civil liability for providing services or counseling based on the provider’s sincerely held religious beliefs.

The bill defines “mental health provider” to include the following:

• a behavior analyst;
• a chemical dependency counselor;
• a licensed professional counselor;
• a marriage and family therapist;
• a nurse;
• a physician;
• a psychologist;
• a sex offender treatment provider;
• a social worker;
• a special officer for offenders with mental impairments; or
• another person licensed by the state to provide professional therapy or counseling services.

The bill would effectively allow mental health providers to perform conversion therapy.

Additionally, mental health providers could potentially refuse to provide services or treatment to the LGBTQ community.

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Latest Action

3/8/19 – Introduced.

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People