ORS 675.850: Prohibition on practice of conversion therapy; definitions; discipline.

(1) A mental health care or social health professional may not practice conversion therapy if the recipient of the conversion therapy is under 18 years of age. (2) As used in this section: (a)(A) “Conversion therapy” means providing professional services for the purpose of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including attempting to change behaviors or expressions of self or to reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. (B) “Conversion therapy” does not mean: (i) Counseling that assists a client who is seeking to undergo a gender transition or who is in the process of undergoing a gender transition; or (ii) Counseling that provides a client with acceptance, support and understanding, or counseling that facilitates a client’s coping, social support and identity exploration or development, including counseling in the form of sexual orientation-neutral or gender identity-neutral interventions provided for the purpose of preventing or addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as the counseling is not provided for the purpose of attempting to change the client’s sexual orientation or gender identity. (b)(A) “Mental health care or social health professional” means: (i) A licensed psychologist as defined in ORS 675.010; (ii) A psychologist associate licensed by the Oregon Board of Psychology before January 1, 2022; (iii) An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant both as defined in ORS 675.210; (iv) A regulated social worker as defined in ORS 675.510; (v) A licensed marriage and family therapist or licensed professional counselor both as defined in ORS 675.705; (vi) An individual who provides counseling as part of an educational or training program necessary to practice any of the professions described in sub-subparagraphs (i) to (v) of this subparagraph; and (vii) A behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst licensed under ORS 676.810 or a behavior analysis interventionist registered under ORS 676.815. (B) “Mental health care or social health professional” includes any individual not described in this paragraph who is licensed in this state and whose license authorizes the individual to provide mental health care or social health counseling services. (3) Any state board that regulates licensees described in subsection (2)(b)(B) of this section may impose any form of discipline that the board may impose on a licensee under the laws of this state for violating a law of this state or a rule adopted by the board. [2015 c.79 §1; 2021 c.211 §3; 2023 c.500 §10] PENALTIES