HB 1568

An act to create new section 97-3-102, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a crime for a therapist who engages IN sexual contact with a patient; To amend section 97-3-95, mississippi code of 1972, to include the term "therapist" IN the provision of law that regulates the crime of sexual battery; To amend section 73-54-29, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging IN sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of marriage and family therapists; To amend section 73-53-17, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging IN sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of social workers; To amend section 73-30-21, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging IN sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of licensed professional counselors; To amend section 73-31-21, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging IN sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of psychologists; To amend section 73-25-29, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging IN sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of physicians; To bring forward section 97-3-97, mississippi code of 1972, which provides definitions for the crime of sexual battery; To bring forward section 97-3-101, mississippi code of 1972, which provides the penalties for the crime of sexual battery; To provide additional immunity for any person who, IN good faith, reports abuse, neglect OR commercial sexual exploitation; To require any person OR entity who learns that an adult was abused as a child by a person who was OR is associated with the person OR entity; To provide immunity to such person for reporting; To amend sections 43-21-353 and 97-3-54.1, mississippi code of 1972, to provide immunity for the reporter of sexual abuse which may be incurred as a result of reporting; To bring forward section 97-5-51, mississippi code of 1972, which provides for mandatory reporting, for purposes of amendment; And for related purposes.