Protect Children’s Innocence Act

Key Points

• This bill would make it a federal crime to provide gender-affirming medical care to anyone under 18 years old. This includes various surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone treatments intended to help a minor's body match a gender identity that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
• Doctors or other individuals who perform these procedures or provide these medications could face up to 10 years in prison and significant fines. The law would apply to any case involving travel across state lines, the use of the mail, or medical tools that have moved through interstate commerce.
• The proposal specifically states that mental, behavioral, or emotional health issues do not qualify as a medical necessity for these treatments. This means doctors could not use a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or emotional distress as a legal reason to provide this care to a minor.
• There are specific exceptions for children born with certain physical conditions, such as those with ambiguous biological sex traits. It also allows treatments for physical injuries, illnesses, or a condition called precocious puberty where a child begins puberty much earlier than normal.
• While the adults providing the care or transporting a minor for these procedures would face criminal charges, the minors themselves are protected. The bill states that no person under 18 who receives these treatments can be arrested or prosecuted for it.

Related Bills

No related bills have been identified yet.