Jamie Reed Protecting Kids Act

Full Title:
Jamie Reed Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act

Summary#

This measure creates a federal civil cause of action for people who suffer bodily injury or harm to mental health that is attributable, in whole or in part, to a gender-transition procedure performed on them when they were minors. It defines "gender-transition procedure" to include prescription or administration of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones (testosterone or estrogen when given to the opposite biological sex), and surgeries to change the body to match a person’s subjective gender identity. The text exempts certain medical conditions (for example, some intersex conditions and urgent lifesaving procedures). Covered defendants include pediatric gender clinics, medical practitioners who provided care, hospitals and institutions of higher education that host or fund such clinics, and any medical practitioner who performed the procedure. The bill allows a private civil action up to 30 years after the person turns 18 for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. It provides an affirmative defense if the clinic or practitioner did not know and had no reason to know the patient was a minor. The measure also prohibits federal funds to pediatric gender clinics, to hospitals or institutions that host or fund such clinics, and for any gender-transition procedure performed on a minor. The act takes effect on enactment and applies to procedures performed before, on, or after that date. It includes a severability clause.

What it means for you#

  • A person who had a gender-transition procedure as a minor and believes they suffered bodily injury or mental-health harm can sue the listed providers and affiliated institutions. The person has up to 30 years after turning 18 to start that lawsuit.
  • Pediatric gender clinics, medical practitioners, hospitals, and colleges that host or fund such clinics could face civil claims and a prohibition on receiving federal funds under the text of the measure.
  • The bill defines the procedures covered and lists limited medical exceptions for certain biological conditions and emergencies.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs or budgetary effects. The text authorizes compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs to successful plaintiffs.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.