Minnesota Session Laws - 1984, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1984 

                        CHAPTER 631-S.F.No. 1884 
           An act relating to occupations and professions; 
          establishing a task force to study the problem of 
          sexual exploitation by counselors and therapists. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BY 
PSYCHOTHERAPISTS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [CREATION; MEMBERSHIP.] The commissioner of 
corrections shall appoint a task force to study the problem of 
sexual exploitation by counselors and therapists.  The task 
force shall consist of not more than 18 members who are broadly 
representative of the state, including representatives of 
professional organizations, board of medical examiners, board of 
psychology, and board of nursing, agencies and individuals 
offering counseling or therapy services, the legal community, 
appropriate state agencies, women's organizations, mental health 
advocacy organizations, men's organizations, and consumers.  The 
terms, compensation, and removal of members are as provided in 
section 15.059.  
    Subd. 2.  [STATEWIDE PLAN.] The task force shall develop a 
statewide plan to:  
    (1) educate the public about the nature and scope of sexual 
exploitation by counselors and therapists;  
    (2) educate counselors and therapists, their employers, and 
training institutions about the consequences of and methods of 
preventing unethical conduct; and 
    (3) educate clients and potential clients about their 
rights, ways to select nonabusive counselors and therapists, and 
remedies for sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist.  
    Subd. 3.  [RECOMMENDATIONS.] Based on its findings, the 
task force shall make recommendations to the legislature by 
February 1, 1985, on:  
    (1) the need for a bill of rights for counseling and 
therapy clients;  
    (2) the need to improve the procedures and rules of 
regulatory agencies to minimize trauma for complainants and 
standardize penalties;  
    (3) the advisability of prohibiting information concerning 
the previous sexual conduct of a client or former client in 
proceedings of regulatory agencies;  
    (4) the need to create a felony offense for sexual 
exploitation by a counselor or therapist;  
    (5) the need for increasing damage awards in civil suits 
involving sexual exploitation by counselors or therapists;  
    (6) the need to require rules of professional conduct that 
prohibit sexual contact with clients and patients and require 
reporting of known violations;  
    (7) the need for regulation of all professionals engaging 
in therapy and counseling; and 
    (8) the need for other actions to address the problem of 
sexual exploitation by counselors and therapists.  
    Subd. 4.  [EXPIRATION.] The task force expires on July 1, 
1985.  
    Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
    Approved May 2, 1984