SB 65 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 24 AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CONVERSION THERAPY.
Last action — Signed by Governor
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 26, 2017. Enacted.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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15 sponsors
2 primary, 13 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 D).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
Conversion therapy is a practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. Conversion therapy has been rejected by all mainstream medical and mental health organizations, and there is no credible evidence that it is effective. Moreover, this practice poses enormous health risks to LGBTQ youth, including an increased sense of shame, guilt, hopelessness, stress, and anger, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and self-harm. The harm done by conversion therapy can last well into adulthood. Therefore, this Act makes it unprofessional conduct or a ground for discipline for individuals granted a certificate to practice medicine under Chapter 17 of Title 24 or licensed under Chapter 19 of Title 24 (regarding nurses), Chapter 30 of Title 24 (regarding mental health and chemical dependency professionals), Chapter 35 of Title 24 (regarding psychologists), and Chapter 39 of Title 24 (regarding clinical social work examiners) to engage in conversion therapy with a child or to refer a child to a practitioner in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy. This Act also prevents the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families from engaging in conversion therapy with a child or recommending that a child receive conversion therapy. Additionally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Bill Text
- Bill Text View text Current pdf
Action History
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Signed by Governor
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Passed By House. Votes: 24 YES 14 NO 3 NOT VOTING
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Amendment HA 4 to SB 65 - Defeated By House. Votes: 15 YES 24 NO 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT
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Amendment HA 3 to SB 65 - Stricken in House
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Amendment HA 3 to SB 65 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
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Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 5 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
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ReAssigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
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Passed By Senate. Votes: 12 YES 3 NO 4 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
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Reported Out of Committee (Health, Children & Social Services) in Senate with 5 On Its Merits
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ReAssigned to Health, Children & Social Services Committee in Senate
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Introduced and Assigned to Elections & Government Affairs Committee in Senate
Sponsors
- Debra Heffernan · Primary
- David P. Sokola · Cosponsor
- Bryan Townsend · Cosponsor
- Sean M. Lynn · Cosponsor
- Edward S. Osienski · Cosponsor
- John J. Viola · Cosponsor
- Melanie George Smith · Cosponsor
- Peter C. Schwartzkopf · Cosponsor
- Michael Ramone · Cosponsor
- John A. Kowalko · Cosponsor
- Helene M. Keeley · Cosponsor
- David Bentz · Cosponsor
- Paul S. Baumbach · Cosponsor
- Margaret Rose Henry · Cosponsor
- Harris B. McDowell · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 47 not signed on · 17 voted No
Sponsors (2)
- Debra Heffernan Democratic
- Harris B. McDowell
Co-sponsors (13)
- David P. Sokola Democratic
- Bryan Townsend Democratic
- Sean M. Lynn Democratic
- Edward S. Osienski Democratic
- John J. Viola
- Melanie George Smith
- Peter C. Schwartzkopf
- Michael Ramone
- John A. Kowalko
- Helene M. Keeley
- David Bentz
- Paul S. Baumbach
- Margaret Rose Henry
Not signed on (47)
47 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 47 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Democratic | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 24 | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 59% | 34% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (41)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Democratic | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 12 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 57% | 14% | 0% | 29% |
How each member voted (21)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Delcollo | — | Yea |
| Brian J. Bushweller | — | Yea |
| Bruce C. Ennis | — | Not Voting |
| Catherine Cloutier | — | Yea |
| Colin Bonini | — | Not Voting |
| David B. McBride | — | Yea |
| Ernesto B Lopez | — | Yea |
| F. Gary Simpson | — | Not Voting |
| Gregory F. Lavelle | — | Not Voting |
| Harris B. McDowell | — | Yea |
| Margaret Rose Henry | — | Yea |
| Robert Marshall | — | Not Voting |
| Bryan Townsend | Democratic | Yea |
| David P. Sokola | Democratic | Yea |
| John "Jack" Walsh | Democratic | Yea |
| Nicole Poore | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephanie L. Hansen | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Republican | Not Voting |
| Bryant L. Richardson | Republican | Nay |
| Dave G. Lawson | Republican | Nay |
| Gerald W. Hocker | Republican | Nay |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 65 do?
- Conversion therapy is a practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. Conversion therapy has been rejected by all mainstream medical and mental health organizations, and there is no credible evidence that it is effective. Moreover, this practice poses enormous health risks to LGBTQ youth, including an increased sense of shame, guilt, hopelessness, stress, and anger, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and self-harm. The harm done by conversion therapy can last well into adulthood. Therefore, this Act makes it unprofessional conduct or a ground for discipline for individuals granted a certificate to practice medicine under Chapter 17 of Title 24 or licensed under Chapter 19 of Title 24 (regarding nurses), Chapter 30 of Title 24 (regarding mental health and chemical dependency professionals), Chapter 35 of Title 24 (regarding psychologists), and Chapter 39 of Title 24 (regarding clinical social work examiners) to engage in conversion therapy with a child or to refer a child to a practitioner in another jurisdiction to receive conversion therapy. This Act also prevents the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families from engaging in conversion therapy with a child or recommending that a child receive conversion therapy. Additionally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
- Who sponsors SB 65?
- SB 65 is sponsored by Debra Heffernan (Democratic), David P. Sokola (Democratic), Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Sean M. Lynn (Democratic), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), John J. Viola, Melanie George Smith, Peter C. Schwartzkopf, Michael Ramone, John A. Kowalko, Helene M. Keeley, David Bentz, Paul S. Baumbach, Margaret Rose Henry, and Harris B. McDowell.
- What is the current status of SB 65?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 26, 2017. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 65?
- Track SB 65 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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