Texas Bill Authorizing Therapists to Refuse to Provide Services (SB 2096)

This law was last updated on Dec 7, 2017

State

Texas

Number

SB 2096

Status

Failed to Pass

Proposed

Mar 10, 2017

Topics

Conscience and Refusal Clauses, LGBTQ, Religious Freedom

Full Bill Text

www.legis.state.tx.us

SB 2096 would allow licensed professional counselors to refuse to provide psychological services to a person if providing the service would cause the license holder to violate a sincerely held religious belief.

A license holder who refuses to provide a psychological service to a person would be required to coordinate a referral of the person to a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, chemical dependency counselor, or social worker, as appropriate, who agrees to provide the counseling or therapy service.

The bill would protect the refusing license holder from facing any discriminatory action or administrative penalties. The state would be prohibited from penalizing or withholding benefits, including tax exemptions, governmental contracts, or grants, from a license holder based on the license holder’s refusal to provide services. The bill would prohibit a person from bringing a cause of action against a license holder for their refusal to provide such services.

Related Legislation

Companion bill to HB 3856.

Similar to SB 651, which would apply to all licensed occupations.