Health plan coverage of conversion therapy prohibition for minors and vulnerable adults

A bill for an act

relating to health care; prohibiting health plan coverage of conversion therapy for

minors and vulnerable adults; requiring the commissioner of human rights to

protect Minnesotans from conversion therapy; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024,

section 363A.06, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota

Statutes, chapter 62A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin

[62A.195] PROHIBITION ON COVERAGE OF CONVERSION

THERAPY FOR MINORS AND VULNERABLE ADULTS.

new text end

new text begin

Subdivision 1.

new text end

new text begin

Definitions.

new text end

new text begin

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have

the meanings given.

new text end

new text begin

(b) "Conversion therapy" has the meaning given in section 214.078, subdivision 1,

paragraph (b).

new text end

new text begin

(c) "Vulnerable adult" has the meaning given in section 626.5572, subdivision 21.

new text end

new text begin

Subd. 2.

new text end

new text begin

Prohibition.

new text end

new text begin

A health plan that is offered, sold, issued, or renewed to Minnesota

residents must not include coverage for conversion therapy for an enrollee under 18 years

of age or for an enrollee who is a vulnerable adult.

new text end

new text begin

EFFECTIVE DATE.

new text end

new text begin

This section is effective January 1, 2027, and applies to health

plans offered, sold, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 363A.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Formulation of policies.

(a) The commissioner shall formulate policies

to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and shall do the following:

(1) exercise leadership under the direction of the governor in the development of human

rights policies and programs, and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature

for their consideration and implementation;

(2) establish and maintain a principal office in St. Paul, and any other necessary branch

offices at any location within the state;

(3) meet and function at any place within the state;

(4) employ attorneys, clerks, and other employees and agents as the commissioner may

deem necessary and prescribe their duties;

(5) to the extent permitted by federal law and regulation, utilize the records of the

Department of Employment and Economic Development of the state when necessary to

effectuate the purposes of this chapter;

(6) obtain upon request and utilize the services of all state governmental departments

and agencies;

(7) adopt suitable rules for effectuating the purposes of this chapter;

(8) issue complaints, receive and investigate charges alleging unfair discriminatory

practices, and determine whether or not probable cause exists for hearing;

(9) subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the production for

examination of any books or papers relative to any matter under investigation or in question

as the commissioner deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(10) attempt, by means of education, conference, conciliation, and persuasion to eliminate

unfair discriminatory practices as being contrary to the public policy of the state;

(11) develop and conduct programs of formal and informal education designed to

eliminate discrimination and intergroup conflict by use of educational techniques and

programs the commissioner deems necessary;

(12) make a written report of the activities of the commissioner to the governor each

year;

(13) accept gifts, bequests, grants, or other payments public and private to help finance

the activities of the department;

(14) create such local and statewide advisory committees as will in the commissioner's

judgment aid in effectuating the purposes of the Department of Human Rights;

(15) develop such programs as will aid in determining the compliance throughout the

state with the provisions of this chapter, and in the furtherance of such duties, conduct

research and study discriminatory practices based upon race, color, creed, religion, national

origin, sex, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, status with regard to public

assistance, familial status, sexual orientation, or other factors and develop accurate data on

the nature and extent of discrimination and other matters as they may affect housing,

employment, public accommodations, schools, and other areas of public life;

(16) develop and disseminate technical assistance to persons subject to the provisions

of this chapter, and to agencies and officers of governmental and private agencies;

(17) provide staff services to such advisory committees as may be created in aid of the

functions of the Department of Human Rights;

(18) make grants in aid to the extent that appropriations are made available for that

purpose in aid of carrying out duties and responsibilities;

(19) cooperate and consult with the commissioner of labor and industry regarding the

investigation of violations of, and resolution of complaints regarding section
363A.08,

subdivision 7
; and

(20) analyze civil rights trends pursuant to this chapter, including information compiled

from community organizations that work directly with historically marginalized communities,

and prepare a report each biennium that recommends policy and system changes to reduce

and prevent further civil rights incidents across Minnesota. The report shall be provided to

the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate

committees with jurisdiction over the Department of Human Rights. This report must also

be posted on the Department of Human Rights' public website and shared with community

organizations that work with historically marginalized communities.

In performing these duties, the commissioner shall give priority to those duties in clauses

(8), (9), and (10) and to the duties in section
363A.36
.

(b) All gifts, bequests, grants, or other payments, public and private, accepted under

paragraph (a), clause (13), must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to a special

account. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of human rights to help

finance activities of the department.

new text begin

(c) The commissioner shall take all appropriate actions to protect Minnesotans from

conversion therapy including, to the extent permissible, investigating charges and pursuing

civil relief when the commissioner has reason to believe a mental health practitioner or

mental health professional is engaging in unfair discriminatory practices. For purposes of

this paragraph, "conversion therapy" has the meaning given in section 214.078, subdivision

1, paragraph (b).

new text end