Bill
SB 2682
Creates a new therapist abuse offense, mandatory reporting, and civil remedies with license penalties to protect clients and hold abusive therapists accountable.
Status: Died In Committee (per provided record)
Sponsor: Sen. Darby A. Hills
Companion bill: HB 783
Note on dates: the source materials include inconsistent dates (e.g., filings shown for March–April 2025 and an LRB cover page dated October 14, 2025). Key procedural entries provided include filing on March 13, 2025; read first time and referral on April 3, 2025; and a final status of Died In Committee.
Purpose
- To create new criminal and civil accountability for sexual or other abuse by therapists and certain unlicensed health/mental‑health providers, retitle and amend the existing Sexual Exploitation in Psychotherapy… Act (short title changed to the Therapist Abuse Prevention and Accountability Act), and to require mandatory reporting of observed or suspected therapist abuse.
Key provisions
- New criminal offense (added to the Criminal Code as Section 11‑9.6): “Therapist abuse”
- Conduct: a therapist engages in abuse of a client or former client when the therapy terminated within the prior 2 years.
- Consent of the client/former client is not a defense; a client/former client in a therapeutic relationship (or within the previous 2 years) is deemed incapable of consent.
- Classification: therapist abuse is a Class 3 felony.
- When the victim is under 18 or a “vulnerable adult,” conviction triggers forfeiture/revocation of the therapist’s professional license and a permanent bar on practicing therapy in Illinois.
- Mandatory reporting
- A therapist must report observed or suspected therapist abuse to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and local law enforcement.
- Failure to report known abuse: Class A misdemeanor, fine up to $5,000, and subject to disciplinary action by IDFPR.
- Civil cause of action
- A client or former client may bring a civil claim for injury caused by therapist abuse that occurred during therapy or within 2 years after therapy ended.
- The client’s consent is not a defense to such civil claims.
- Definitions and scope
- Replaces and expands definitions (e.g., “abuse,” “client,” “psychotherapist/therapist,” “sexual contact,” “exploitation,” and “vulnerable adult”).
- Clarifies that “abuse” includes sexual contact, exploitation, or physical harm occurring during or within 2 years after the therapeutic relationship.
- Conforming and technical edits throughout the existing Act; adds new sections (6.1–6.4) and conforming amendments to the Criminal Code.
Who would be affected
- Therapists and psychotherapy providers (licensed and some unlicensed providers captured by the Act)
- Current and former clients (expanded civil remedies and protections)
- Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (enforcement, license discipline)
- Local law enforcement and the criminal justice system
- Health care employers, professional liability insurers, and licensing boards
Potential impacts
- Creates criminal liability and severe licensing consequences for abusive conduct by therapists, including when the client appears to consent.
- Expands mandatory reporting obligations for therapists and criminalizes failure to report known abuse.
- Strengthens civil remedies for clients injured by therapist abuse, with a 2‑year window after therapy termination to seek relief.
- Likely effects include increased regulatory/enforcement activity, changes to practice policies, and potential professional‑liability implications for practitioners and employers.
For full text and legislative history, consult the bill file and the companion HB 783.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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