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CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION, APPROVAL, AMENDMENT, AND/OR POSTPONEMENT OF ORDINANCE O-2021-45 UPON SECOND AND FINAL READING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING SECTION 7-103 CHAPTER 7 OF THE CODE OF CITY OF NORMAN ADDING THE DEFINITION OF CONVERSION THERAPY; ADDING SECTION 7-111 PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF CONVERSION THERAPY WITH A MINOR; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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BACKGROUND: At the request of the Human Rights Commission ("HRC"), Staff drafted an ordinance that would prohibit the use of City funds for conversion therapy. During a special meeting on 5/3/21, the HRC voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt the ordinance as drafted. The ordinance was discussed by Council during the Council Conference on May 11, 2021. Some Councilmembers expressed support for an approach that would outright prohibit the practice of conversion therapy for minor children and Staff revised the drafted ordinance. During the regularly scheduled meeting on 5/27/21, the HRC voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the revised draft ordinance. The latest version of the ordinance is attached for your consideration and the relevant changes contained therein are discussed below.
DISCUSSION:
Adding article headings
First, the proposed amendments include housekeeping changes to Chapter 7 for organizational purposes. Chapter 7 is now split into three different Articles. This change only adds a layer of organization of the numerous sections of Chapter 7 and is not intended to be substantive:
ARTICLE I - IN GENERAL
The already existing sections to be included under this article are general provisions, such as the statement of purpose and duties of the HRC.
ARTICLE II - ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
The already existing sections to be included under the article relate to anti-discrimination and the HRC complaint process.
ARTICLE III - CONVERSION THERAPY
This article is where the two new sections of code will be placed...
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