33-LS0186\A
HOUSE BILL NO. 43
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION
BY REPRESENTATIVES HANNAN, Armstrong, Mina, Mears, McCormick, Fields
Introduced: 1/23/23
Referred: Health and Social Services, Judiciary, Labor and Commerce
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
1 "An Act relating to professional and occupational licensing; and relating to treatment to
2 change the sexual orientations or gender identities of children and vulnerable adults."
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
4 * Section 1. AS 08.01.077 is repealed and reenacted to read:
5 Sec. 08.01.077. Grounds for disciplinary action. Notwithstanding another
6 provision of this title, a department or board may consider the following as grounds
7 for disciplining or sanctioning a person licensed, certified, or regulated by that
8 department or board under this title:
9 (1) a conviction for a crime under AS 47.24.010;
10 (2) treating an individual under the age of 18 or a vulnerable adult with
11 a therapy or other regimen in violation of AS 47.17.024(c) or AS 47.24.140.
12 * Sec. 2. AS 47.17.024 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
13 (c) A practitioner of the healing arts may not, in the performance of the
14 practitioner's occupational duties, treat an individual under the age of 18 with a
HB0043a -1- HB 43
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
33-LS0186\A
1 therapy or another regimen that seeks to change the individual's sexual orientation or
2 gender identity, including efforts to change behavior or gender expression or reduce or
3 eliminate sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward a person of the same gender.
4 This subsection does not apply to counseling that provides support and assistance to an
5 individual undergoing gender transition or counseling that provides acceptance,
6 support, and understanding of an individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social
7 support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-
8 neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual
9 practices, or counseling that does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender
10 identity. A person required to report under AS 47.17.020 who suspects or receives a
11 report of harm arising from a violation of this subsection shall report the harm as
12 provided under AS 47.17.020. In this subsection,
13 (1) "gender identity" means an individual's actual or perceived gender-
14 related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics
15 without regard to the person's designated sex at birth;
16 (2) "sexual orientation" means an individual's actual or perceived
17 heterosexuality, homosexuality, asexuality, or bisexuality.
18 * Sec. 3. AS 47.24 is amended by adding a new section to read:
19 Sec. 47.24.140. Treatment to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
20 A practitioner of the healing arts may not, in the performance of the practitioner's
21 professional duties, treat a vulnerable adult with a therapy or another regimen that
22 seeks to change the vulnerable adult's sexual orientation or gender identity, including
23 efforts to change behavior or gender expression or reduce or eliminate sexual or
24 romantic attraction or feelings toward a person of the same gender. This section does
25 not apply to counseling that provides support and assistance to an individual
26 undergoing gender transition or counseling that provides acceptance, support, and
27 understanding of an individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social support, and
28 identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral
29 interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, or
30 counseling that does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity. A person
31 required to report under AS 47.24.010 who suspects or receives a report of harm
HB 43 -2- HB0043a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
33-LS0186\A
1 arising from a violation of this section shall report the harm as provided under
2 AS 47.24.010. In this section,
3 (1) "gender identity" has the meaning given in AS 47.17.024;
4 (2) "practitioner of the healing arts" has the meaning given in
5 AS 47.17.290;
6 (3) "sexual orientation" has the meaning given in AS 47.17.024.
7 * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to
8 read:
9 APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to conduct that occurs on or after the effective
10 date of this Act.
HB0043a -3- HB 43
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
Statutes affected: HB0043A, AM HB 43, introduced 01/20/2023: 08.01.077, 47.24.010, 47.17.024, 47.24.140, 47.17.020, 47.17.290