Alaska 32nd Legislature (2021-2022) Status: In Committee 2 D cosponsors

HB 8 — An Act relating to professional and occupational licensing; and relating to protection of children and vulnerable adults.

Last action — (H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 32nd Legislature (2021-2022). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes restrictions on treatment aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals under 18 and vulnerable adults in Alaska.

  • AS 08.01.077

    Sec. 08.01.077. Grounds for disciplinary action. Notwithstanding another provision of this title, a department or board under this title may consider the following as grounds for disciplining or sanctioning a person licensed, certified, or regulated by that department or board: (1) a conviction for a crime under AS 47.24.010; (2) treating a vulnerable adult or an individual under the age of 18 with a therapy or other regimen in violation of AS 47.17.024(c) or AS 47.24.140.

    This change establishes specific grounds for disciplinary action against licensed professionals who treat individuals under 18 or vulnerable adults with certain therapies.

  • AS 47.17.024

    (c) A practitioner of the healing arts licensed under AS 08 may not, in the performance of the practitioner's occupational duties, treat an individual under the age of 18 with a therapy or another regimen that seeks to change the individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behavior or gender expression or reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward a person of the same gender. This subsection does not apply to counseling that provides support and assistance to an individual undergoing gender transition or counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of an individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, or counseling that does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity. A person required to report under AS 47.17.020 who suspects or receives a report of harm arising from a violation of this subsection shall report the harm as provided under AS 47.17.020. In this subsection, (1) "gender identity" means an individual's actual or perceived gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics without regard to the person's designated sex at birth; (2) "sexual orientation" means an individual's actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, asexuality, or bisexuality.

    This addition prohibits licensed practitioners from performing therapies aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals under 18.

  • AS 47.24

    Sec. 47.24.140. Treatment to change sexual orientation or gender identity. A practitioner of the healing arts licensed under AS 08 may not, in the performance of the practitioner's professional duties, treat a vulnerable adult with a therapy or another regimen that seeks to change the vulnerable adult's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behavior or gender expression or reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward a person of the same gender. This section does not apply to counseling that provides support and assistance to an individual undergoing gender transition or counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of an individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, or counseling that does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity. A person required to report under AS 47.24.010 who suspects or receives a report of harm arising from a violation of this section shall report the harm as provided under AS 47.24.010. In this section, (1) "gender identity" has the meaning given in AS 47.17.024; (2) "practitioner of the healing arts" has the meaning given in AS 47.17.290; (3) "sexual orientation" has the meaning given in AS 47.17.024.

    This new section prohibits licensed practitioners from performing therapies aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of vulnerable adults.

  • APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.

    This provision specifies that the new regulations apply only to conduct occurring after the bill's effective date.

Action History

  1. (H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS

  2. (H) COSPONSOR(S): SNYDER

  3. (H) COSPONSOR(S): TARR

  4. (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE

  5. (H) L&C, JUD

  6. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  7. (H) Prefile released 1/8/21

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 60 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (60)

60 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 60 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 8?
HB 8 is sponsored by Sara Hannan (D), Hopkins, Tarr, Snyder, and Zack Fields (D).
What is the current status of HB 8?
This bill died with 32nd Legislature (2021-2022). It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 8?
Track HB 8 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 8

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 8

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →