IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
AN ORDINANCE repealing Section 5575., Jackson County Code, 1984, relating to regulation of conversion therapy on minors, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to dangerous therapies.
Intro
ORDINANCE NO. 6124, August 24, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Jalen Anderson, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, the safety and well-being of the residents of Jackson County, particularly minors, is a fundamental priority for the County Executive and County Legislature; and,
WHEREAS, these measures reflect Jackson County’s commitment to proactive governance that prioritizes public safety, and the County’s commitment to protecting its diverse citizenry; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Enacting Clause.
Section 5575., of the Jackson County Code, 1984, is hereby repealed, and one section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as Section 5575 to read as follows:
[5575. Conversion Therapy of Minors Prohibited.
5575.1 Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated in this subsection:
a. Conversion Therapy or Reparative Therapy means any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender or any therapeutic intervention imposed with the intent of promoting a particular sexual orientation and/or gender as a preferred outcome. Conversion Therapy shall not include counseling that provides support and assistance to a person undergoing gender transition, or 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 treatment interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as such counseling does not seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
b. Gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, expression, behavior or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth.
c. Minor means a person less than 18 years old.
d. Provider means any licensed medical or mental health professional including, but not limited to, licensed professional counselors, licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, provisional licensed professional counselors, provisional and temporary licensed psychologists, licensed and provisional licensed marital and family therapists, psychiatrists, certified substance abuse counselors, certified school counselors, behavior analysts, and any professional licensed under chapters 334 and 337 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Provider does not mean a parent or grandparent who is a Provider as defined above who is acting substantially in the capacity of a parent or grandparent and not in the capacity of a licensed medical or mental health professional.
e. Sexual Orientation is the scientifically accurate term for a person’s enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to another person. Sexual Orientations can include heterosexual (straight), lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, asexual, and other orientations. Sexual Orientation avoids the offensive term “sexual preference,” which is used to inaccurately suggest that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is voluntary and “curable.” People need not have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientations; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all. (Ord. 5731, Eff. 4/6/23)
5575.2 Prohibition.
It shall be unlawful for any Provider to engage in Conversion Therapy or Reparative Therapy with a Minor. (Ord. 5731, Eff. 4/6/23)
5575.3 Penalty Provision.
Any person found guilty of a violation of section 5575.2 of this section is subject to punishment pursuant to section 5520. of this chapter, except that no violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment. (Ord. 5731, Eff. 4/6/23)]
5575 Dangerous Therapies Prohibited
No person shall administer or practice any Dangerous Therapies as defined in this section within the municipal boundaries of Jackson County, Missouri.
5575.1 Definitions
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated in this subsection:
a. Attempted Suicide means any actions taken toward the act of killing one’s self.
b. Dangerous Therapies means any practice, treatment or service that increases the risk of Suicidal Ideation, Attempted Suicide, Self-harm, Suicide, or Depression that is provided for the purpose of treating, curing, changing, or eliminating a person’s behavior or condition that is not recognized as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association as most recently amended.
c. Depression means a negative affective state, ranging from unhappiness and discontent to an extreme feeling of sadness, pessimism, hopelessness, or despondency that interferes with daily life.
d. Self-harm means the intentional destruction or injury of one’s own body
e. Suicidal Ideation means thoughts about or a preoccupation with killing oneself, regardless of whether an attempted or completed suicide occurs
f. Suicide means the completion of the act of killing oneself.
5575.2 Penalty
Any person found guilty of a violation of this section is subject to punishment pursuant to section 5520. of this chapter, except that no violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its signature by the County Executive.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached ordinance, Ordinance No. 6124 introduced on August 24, 2026, was duly passed on__________________, 2026 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______________ Nays ______________
Abstaining ___________ Absent _____________
This Ordinance is hereby transmitted to the County Executive for his signature.
____________________ ________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature
I hereby approve the attached Ordinance No. 6124.
____________________ ________________________________
Date Phil LeVota., County Executive