Rhode Island H7884

Gender transition procedures for minors prohibited. (a) A physician or other healthcare professional shall not provide gender transition procedures to any individual under eighteen (18) years of age. (b) A healthcare institution or entity shall not facilitate the provision of gender transition procedures to any individual under eighteen (18) years of age.

Insurance coverage for gender transition procedures for minors prohibited. (a) A health benefit plan under an insurance policy or other plan providing healthcare coverage in this state shall not include reimbursement for gender transition procedures for a person under eighteen (18) years of age. (b) A health benefit plan under an insurance policy or other plan providing healthcare coverage in this state is not required to provide coverage for gender transition procedures. (c) A federal health benefit plan under an insurance policy or other plan providing healthcare coverage, such as TRICare or Veterans Administration Healthcare, shall not include reimbursement for gender transition procedures for a person under eighteen (18) years of age in this state.

Prohibition on aiding or abetting. (a) A person or entity shall not knowingly engage in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of gender transition procedures, to any individual under eighteen (18) years of age, including employees of other state governments, the federal government, or foreign governments. (b) This provision shall not apply to any first amendment-protected speech. (c) No parent of a child victim shall be held liable under this section.

Prohibition on use of public funds for gender transition. (a) Public funds shall not be directly or indirectly used, granted, paid, or distributed to any entity, organization, or individual that provides gender transition procedures to an individual under eighteen (18) years of age. (b) Healthcare services furnished in the following situations shall not include gender transition procedures to an individual under eighteen (18) years of age: (1) By or in a facility owned by the state or a local government; or (2) By a physician or other healthcare professional employed by the state or local government. (c) An amount paid by an individual or an entity, during a taxable year, for provision of gender transition procedures or as premiums for healthcare coverage, that includes coverage for gender transition procedures, is not tax-deductible. (d) The state Medicaid program shall not reimburse or provide coverage for gender transition procedures to an individual under eighteen (18) years of age.

Gender transition procedures on minors constitute unprofessional and reckless conduct. Any referral for or provision of gender transition procedures to an individual, under eighteen (18) years of age, is unprofessional conduct and is subject to discipline by the appropriate licensing entity or disciplinary review board, with competent jurisdiction in this state.

Private cause of action. Every person who subjects or causes to be subjected any citizen of this state or other person within the jurisdiction to suffer injury by violating the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other appropriate proceedings for redress in the superior court of this state. The court may award attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.