Laws, Acts, and Legislation

To amend sections 4723.43, 4732.01, 4732.17, and 4757.01 and to enact sections 4731.30, 4732.29, and 4757.35 of the Revised Code to prohibit persons licensed or certified, or in training to be licensed or certified, in occupations that provide professional counseling from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under eighteen years of age.

Sec. 4723.43. A certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or certified nurse practitioner may provide to individuals and groups nursing care that requires knowledge and skill obtained from advanced formal education and clinical experience. In this capacity as an advanced practice registered nurse, a certified nurse-midwife is subject to division (A) of this section, a certified registered nurse anesthetist is subject to division (B) of this section, a certified nurse practitioner is subject to division (C) of this section, and a clinical nurse specialist is subject to division (D) of this section.

(A) A nurse authorized to practice as a certified nurse-midwife, in collaboration with one or more physicians, may provide the management of preventive services and those primary care services necessary to provide health care to women antepartally, intrapartally, postpartally, and gynecologically, consistent with the nurse's education and certification, and in accordance with rules adopted by the board of nursing.

No certified nurse-midwife may perform version, deliver breech or face presentation, use forceps, do any obstetric operation, or treat any other abnormal condition, except in emergencies. Division (A) of this section does not prohibit a certified nurse-midwife from performing episiotomies or normal vaginal deliveries, or repairing vaginal tears. A certified nurse-midwife who holds a certificate to prescribe issued under section 4723.48 of the Revised Code may, in collaboration with one or more physicians, prescribe drugs and therapeutic devices in accordance with section 4723.481 of the Revised Code.

(B) A nurse authorized to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, with the supervision and in the immediate presence of a physician, podiatrist, or dentist, may administer anesthesia and perform anesthesia induction, maintenance, and emergence, and may perform with supervision preanesthetic preparation and evaluation, postanesthesia care, and clinical support functions, consistent with the nurse's education and certification, and in accordance with rules adopted by the board. A certified registered nurse anesthetist is not required to obtain a certificate to prescribe in order to provide the anesthesia care described in this division.

The physician, podiatrist, or dentist supervising a certified registered nurse anesthetist must be actively engaged in practice in this state. When a certified registered nurse anesthetist is supervised by a podiatrist, the nurse's scope of practice is limited to the anesthesia procedures that the podiatrist has the authority under section 4731.51 of the Revised Code to perform. A certified registered nurse anesthetist may not administer general anesthesia under the supervision of a podiatrist in a podiatrist's office. When a certified registered nurse anesthetist is supervised by a dentist, the nurse's scope of practice is limited to the anesthesia procedures that the dentist has the authority under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code to perform.

(C) A nurse authorized to practice as a certified nurse practitioner, in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists, may provide preventive and primary care services, provide services for acute illnesses, and evaluate and promote patient wellness within the nurse's nursing specialty, consistent with the nurse's education and certification, and in accordance with rules adopted by the board. A certified nurse practitioner who holds a certificate to prescribe issued under section 4723.48 of the Revised Code may, in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists, prescribe drugs and therapeutic devices in accordance with section 4723.481 of the Revised Code.

When a certified nurse practitioner is collaborating with a podiatrist, the nurse's scope of practice is limited to the procedures that the podiatrist has the authority under section 4731.51 of the Revised Code to perform.

(D)(1) A nurse authorized to practice as a clinical nurse specialist, in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists, may provide and manage the care of individuals and groups with complex health problems and provide health care services that promote, improve, and manage health care within the nurse's nursing specialty, consistent with the nurse's education and in accordance with rules adopted by the board. A clinical nurse specialist who holds a certificate to prescribe issued under section 4723.48 of the Revised Code may, in collaboration with one or more physicians or podiatrists, prescribe drugs and therapeutic devices in accordance with section 4723.481 of the Revised Code.

When a clinical nurse specialist is collaborating with a podiatrist, the nurse's scope of practice is limited to the procedures that the podiatrist has the authority under section 4731.51 of the Revised Code to perform.

(2)(a) A clinical nurse specialist licensed under this chapter who practices the nursing specialty of mental health or psychiatric mental health who performs counseling, or a clinical nurse specialist who performs counseling as part of the specialist's training, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with any person under eighteen years of age.

Sec. 4731.30. (A) A physician licensed under this chapter who satisfactorily completed a residency training program in psychiatry and who performs counseling in the course of the professional practice of psychiatry, or a physician who performs counseling as part of the physician's training, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with any person under eighteen years of age.

(A) "Psychologist" means any person who holds self out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "psychologic," "psychological," "psychologist," "psychology," or any other terms that imply the person is trained, experienced, or an expert in the field of psychology.

(B) "The practice of psychology" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public any service involving the application of psychological procedures to assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or amelioration of psychological problems or emotional or mental disorders of individuals or groups; or to the assessment or improvement of psychological adjustment or functioning of individuals or groups, whether or not there is a diagnosable pre-existing psychological problem. Practice of psychology includes the practice of school psychology. For purposes of this chapter, teaching or research shall not be regarded as the practice of psychology, even when dealing with psychological subject matter, provided it does not otherwise involve the professional practice of psychology in which patient or client welfare is directly affected.

(C) "Psychological procedures" include but are not restricted to application of principles, methods, or procedures of understanding, predicting, or influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, conditioning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions, or interpersonal relationships; the methods or procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, counseling, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, group process, psychological psychotherapy, or hypnosis; and the methods or procedures of administering or interpreting tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotions, or motivation.

(D) "School psychologist" means any person who holds self out to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "school psychologist" or "school psychology," or who holds self out to be trained, experienced, or an expert in the practice of school psychology.

(1) Evaluation, diagnosis, or test interpretation limited to assessment of intellectual ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, or personality factors directly related to learning problems in an educational setting;

(3) Educational or vocational consultation or direct educational services. This does not include industrial consultation or counseling services to clients undergoing vocational rehabilitation.

(G) "Licensed school psychologist" means an individual holding a current, valid license to practice school psychology issued under section 4732.12 or 4732.15 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Certificated school psychologist" means an individual holding a current, valid school psychologist certificate issued under division (M) of section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4732.17. (A) The state board of psychology may refuse to issue a license to any applicant, may issue a reprimand, or suspend or revoke the license of any licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist, on any of the following grounds:

(2) Using fraud or deceit in the procurement of the license to practice psychology or school psychology or knowingly assisting another in the procurement of such a license through fraud or deceit;

(6) Using any controlled substance or alcoholic beverage to an extent that such use impairs the person's ability to perform the work of a psychologist or school psychologist with safety to the public;

(9) An adjudication by a court, as provided in section 5122.301 of the Revised Code, that the person is incompetent for the purpose of holding the license. Such person may have the person's license issued or restored only upon determination by a court that the person is competent for the purpose of holding the license and upon the decision by the board that such license be issued or restored. The board may require an examination prior to such issuance or restoration.

(10) Waiving the payment of all or any part of a deductible or copayment that a patient, pursuant to a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan that covers psychological services, would otherwise be required to pay if the waiver is used as an enticement to a patient or group of patients to receive health care services from that provider;

(11) Advertising that the person will waive the payment of all or any part of a deductible or copayment that a patient, pursuant to a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan that covers psychological services, would otherwise be required to pay;

(a) In compliance with the health benefit plan that expressly allows such a practice. Waiver of the deductibles or copays shall be made only with the full knowledge and consent of the plan purchaser, payer, and third-party administrator. Such consent shall be made available to the board upon request.

(B) Except as provided in section 4732.171 of the Revised Code, before the board may deny, suspend, or revoke a license under this section, or otherwise discipline the holder of a license, written charges shall be filed with the board by the secretary and a hearing shall be had thereon in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4732.29. A person licensed under this chapter, or a person seeking licensure who performs counseling or other psychological procedures as part of the person's training, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with any person under eighteen years of age.

(A) "Practice of professional counseling" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public a counseling service involving the application of clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, or career development and adjustment, including the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(B) "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor's role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following: assessing and analyzing background and current information, diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, exploring possible solutions, and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development. "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" includes at least counseling, appraisal, consulting, and referral.

(C) "Practice of social work" means the application of specialized knowledge of human development and behavior and social, economic, and cultural systems in directly assisting individuals, families, and groups in a clinical setting to improve or restore their capacity for social functioning, including counseling, the use of psychosocial interventions, and the use of social psychotherapy, which includes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

(E) "Scope of practice" means the services, methods, and techniques in which and the areas for which a person licensed or registered under this chapter is trained and qualified.

(F) "Mental and emotional disorders" means those disorders that are classified in accepted nosologies such as the international classification of diseases and the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders and in future editions of those nosologies.

(G) "Marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, evaluation, assessment, counseling, management and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, through the professional application of marriage and family therapies and techniques.

(H) "Practice of marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, assessment, counseling, and management, of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems, to individuals, couples, and families, singly or in groups, whether those services are offered directly to the general public or through public or private organizations, for a fee, salary or other consideration through the professional application of marriage and family theories, therapies, and techniques, including, but not limited to psychotherapeutic theories, therapies and techniques that marriage and family therapists are educated and trained to perform.

(I) "Sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions, or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender. "Sexual orientation change efforts" does not mean counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a person'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.

Sec. 4757.35. A person licensed or certified under this chapter, or a person seeking licensure or certification under this chapter who performs counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work as part of the person's training, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with any person under eighteen years of age.