{"data":{"id":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-45-1-55","jurisdiction":"us-nj","citation":"N.J. Stat. § 45:1-55","heading":"Sexual orientation change efforts prohibited for persons under 18 years old.","body":"2. a. A person who is licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or a person who performs counseling as part of the person's professional training for any of these professions, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under 18 years of age.\nb.\tAs used in this section, \"sexual orientation change efforts\" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, 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; except that sexual orientation change efforts shall not include counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, or counseling that:\n(1)\tprovides 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; and\n(2)\tdoes not seek to change sexual orientation.\nL.2013, c.150, s.2.","path":["TITLE 45 PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS"],"source_url":"https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/statutes/STATUTES-TEXT.zip","current_through":"P.L.2025, c.405, and J.R.22","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T17:54:13Z","sha256":"f2f4d0cfb9f913f3df7206730222785e78072061296cff1d99a3fdfb55d22519","source_id":"us-nj","stale":true,"prev":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-45-1-54","next":"us-nj/n.j.-stat.-45-1-56"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}