AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 14, Ending Child Gender Modification, by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels:

“As Lt. Governor, I believe the practice of child gender modification is abhorrent and must be stopped in Texas. The Senate and I have been committed to banning the practice of child gender modification and, last session, the Senate passed two bills, SB 1646, by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and SB 1311, by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, but neither bill received a hearing in the House and they both died. That is why SB 14 is one of my top priories this session.”

SB 14 prohibits physicians and health care providers from performing sex change surgeries or prescribing puberty blockers to minors unless medically necessary and requires the Texas Medical Board to revoke the license of a physician who provides the prohibited sex change surgery or drugs. Additionally, SB 14 prohibits public money from being used or distributed to providers, medical schools, hospitals, or physicians who provide these surgeries or drugs.