BILL NUMBER: S8484
SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to regulating the use of
artificial intelligence in the provision of therapy or psychotherapy
services
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would prohibit licensed mental health professionals from using
artificial intelligence tools in client care except for in certain
administrative or supplementary support activities where the client has
given informed consent
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The short title of the bill is the "oversight of technology
in mental health care act".
Section 2. The education law is amended to include a new section 6517.
Subdivision 1 provides definitions. Subdivision 2 permits the use of
artificial intelligence in the provision of certain supplementary
support activities with informed client consent.
Subdivision 3 prohibits the use of artificial intelligence except to the
extent that such use meets the requirements of subdivision 2.
Subdivision 4 affirms the confidentiality of therapy or psychotherapy
records and communications between an individual seeking such services
and a licensed professional.
Subdivision 5 sets out the enforcement and penalty provisions for
violations.
Section 3. Effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The rise in artificial intelligence ("Al") capabilities in recent years
has led to an ever-growing list of use cases for AI. Users perceive
AI-powered chatbots, often based on large language models, as more
empathetic than human listeners, making them a compelling and low-cost
tool for meeting human users' emotional needs. Similarly, mental health
professionals may look to AI as a way to augment their abilities and
provide better patient care in therapy, psychotherapy, and other related
contexts.
However, general use AI is often not trained on the nuance of mental
health practice. According to the Stanford University Institute for
Human-Centered AI, AI chatbots stigmatize certain mental health condi-
tions like schizophrenia and enable dangerous behavior like suicidal
ideation. Recent reports show that information shared with an AI chatbot
does not remain confidential, posing major risks for those that use
these products for assistance with mental health concerns.
This bill would create strong protections around the use of AI in
professional mental healthcare settings. AI should not be used to
supplant professional judgment in interpreting client interactions,
providing therapeutic strategies, offering emotional support, directly
collaborating with clients, or offering behavioral feedback. A substan-
tially similar bill passed unanimously in the Illinois legislature and
was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2025.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.