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State board adds gender identity to proposed rules

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska licensing board has proposed adding language to its rules to prevent mental health professionals from discriminating against clients based on gender identity.

The Mental Health Practice Board added language to its proposed ethics code Thursday that would prevent discrimination against people who identify with a different gender than the one they were born with.

But attorneys for the state Department of Health and Human Services have told the board the proposed rules won't move forward if gender identity is part of the anti-discrimination list. They said it's because that language is not found in state statute.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports the board's approval of the language likely guarantees the proposed ethics code won't be approved.

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