| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the authority of a mental health provider to offer |
|
|
services or counseling based on the provider's sincerely held |
|
|
religious beliefs. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Occupations Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Chapter 113 to read as follows: |
|
|
CHAPTER 113. UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT BY |
|
|
CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER A. SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF |
|
|
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS |
|
|
Sec. 113.001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "mental |
|
|
health provider" means: |
|
|
(1) a behavior analyst licensed under Chapter 506; |
|
|
(2) a chemical dependency counselor licensed under |
|
|
Chapter 504; |
|
|
(3) a licensed professional counselor licensed under |
|
|
Chapter 503; |
|
|
(4) a marriage and family therapist licensed under |
|
|
Chapter 502; |
|
|
(5) a nurse licensed under Chapter 301; |
|
|
(6) a physician licensed under Subtitle B; |
|
|
(7) a psychologist licensed under Chapter 501; |
|
|
(8) a sex offender treatment provider licensed under |
|
|
Chapter 110; |
|
|
(9) a social worker licensed under Chapter 505; |
|
|
(10) a special officer for offenders with mental |
|
|
impairments certified under Section 1701.404; or |
|
|
(11) another person licensed by this state to provide |
|
|
professional therapy or counseling services. |
|
|
Sec. 113.002. SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. A mental |
|
|
health provider is not subject to disciplinary action or civil |
|
|
liability for providing services or counseling based on the |
|
|
provider's sincerely held religious beliefs. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |