§ 133.02. PROHIBITION OF CONVERSION THERAPY ON MINORS.

(A)

Purpose. The intent of this section is to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or questioning youth, from exposure to the serious harms and risks caused by conversion therapy or reparative therapy by licensed providers, including but not limited to licensed therapists. These provisions are exercises of police power of the City for the public safety, health, and welfare; and its provisions shall be liberally construed to accomplish that purpose.

(B)

Definitions.

(1)

Conversion therapy or reparative therapy means, interchangeably, any counseling, practice or treatment performed with the goal of changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expression, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender or sex. Conversion therapy does not include counseling that provides support and assistance to a person undergoing gender transition or counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a persons' coping, social support, and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as such counseling does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity.

(2)

Minor means any person less than eighteen (18) years of age.

(3)

Provider means any person who is licensed by the State of Florida to provide professional counseling, or who performs counseling as part of his or her professional training under F.S. chs. 456, 458, 459, 490 or 491, as such chapters may be amended, including but not limited to, medical practitioners, osteopathic practitioners, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed counselors. A Provider does not include members of the clergy who are acting in their roles as clergy or pastoral counselors and providing religious counseling to congregants, as long as they do not hold themselves out as operating pursuant to any of the aforementioned Florida Statutes licenses.

(C)

Conversation Therapy Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any Provider to practice conversion therapy efforts on any individual who is a minor regardless of whether the person receives monetary compensation in exchange for such services.

(D)

Penalties.

(1)

Any penalty for violation of this section shall be in accordance with Section 10.99 of the Code.

(Ord. No. 18-17 , § 1, passed 5/2/17)