Tennessee law to allow counselors to deny service based on beliefs (This version of the April 27 story, corrects paragraph 10 to read North Carolina, not South Carolina) By Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - Tennessee’s Republican governor on Wednesday signed a law allowing mental health counselors to refuse service to patients on “sincerely held principles,” the latest in a string of U.S. state measures criticized as discriminatory against the gay community. Governor Bill Haslam signed the bill into law three weeks after it was approved by the legislature. It goes into effect immediately. “The substance of this bill doesn’t address a group, issue or belief system,” Haslam said in a statement.  “Rather, it allows counselors – just as we allow other professionals like doctors and lawyers – to refer a client to another counselor when the goals or behaviors would violate a sincerely held principle.” An earlier version of the bill had allowed counselors to refuse service to patients on religious grounds, but it was amended to remove any direct reference to religion.  The law protects therapists and counselors from legal action when they cite their personal principles in refusing service, despite a provision in the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics barring members from such denials of service.  “This measure is rooted in the dangerous misconception that religion can be used as a free pass to discriminate,” Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said in a statement. Weinberg called the bill one in a series of “attacks” on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community following last year’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down state bans on gay marriage. Haslam had previously told Nashville Public Radio he was considering the effect the legislation may have on Tennessee and its citizens, as laws criticized as discriminatory against the LGBT community has drawn increased scrutiny in several states. In North Carolina, a number of companies including PayPal Holdings and Deutsche Bank have canceled plans to add jobs in the state after it passed a law requiring people to use bathrooms or locker rooms in schools and other public facilities that match the gender on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity. Haslam said he decided to sign the counseling bill in part because it forbids denial of service to patients in danger of harming themselves or others. Earlier this month, Haslam disappointed some Christians in the state when he vetoed legislation that would have made the Bible Tennessee’s official book. The governor said that violated the U.S. Constitution. politicsNews
tennessee law allow counselors deny service based beliefs this version april story corrects paragraph read north carolina south carolina by alex dobuzinskis reuters tennessee republican governor wednesday signed law allowing mental health counselors refuse service patients sincerely held principles latest string state measures criticized discriminatory gay community governor bill slam signed bill law three weeks approved legislature it goes effect immediately the substance bill address group issue belief system slam said statement rather allows counselors allow professionals like doctors lawyers refer client another counselor goals behaviors would violate sincerely held an earlier version bill allowed counselors refuse service patients religious grounds amended remove direct reference religion the law protects therapists counselors legal action cite personal principles refusing service despite provision american counseling association code ethics barring members denials service this measure rooted dangerous misconception religion used free pass discriminate hey weinberg executive director american civil liberties union tennessee said statement weinberg called bill one series attacks lesbian gay bisexual transgender community following last year ruling supreme court striking state bans gay marriage slam previously told nashville public radio considering effect legislation may tennessee citizens laws criticized discriminatory lgbt community drawn increased scrutiny several states in north carolina number companies including papal holdings deutsche bank canceled plans add jobs state passed law requiring people use bathrooms locker rooms schools public facilities match gender birth certificate rather gender identity slam said decided sign counseling bill part forbids denial service patients danger harming others earlier month slam disappointed christians state vetoed legislation would made bible tennessee official book the governor said violated constitution politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Tennessee law to allow counselors to deny service based on beliefs (This version of the April 27 story, corrects paragraph 10 to read North Carolina, not South Carolina) By Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - Tennessee’s Republican governor on Wednesday signed a law allowing mental health counselors to refuse service to patients on “sincerely held principles,” the latest in a string of U.S. state measures criticized as discriminatory against the gay community. Governor Bill Haslam signed the bill into law three weeks after it was approved by the legislature. It goes into effect immediately. “The substance of this bill doesn’t address a group, issue or belief system,” Haslam said in a statement.  “Rather, it allows counselors – just as we allow other professionals like doctors and lawyers – to refer a client to another counselor when the goals or behaviors would violate a sincerely held principle.” An earlier version of the bill had allowed counselors to refuse service to patients on religious grounds, but it was amended to remove any direct reference to religion.  The law protects therapists and counselors from legal action when they cite their personal principles in refusing service, despite a provision in the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics barring members from such denials of service.  “This measure is rooted in the dangerous misconception that religion can be used as a free pass to discriminate,” Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said in a statement. Weinberg called the bill one in a series of “attacks” on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community following last year’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down state bans on gay marriage. Haslam had previously told Nashville Public Radio he was considering the effect the legislation may have on Tennessee and its citizens, as laws criticized as discriminatory against the LGBT community has drawn increased scrutiny in several states. In North Carolina, a number of companies including PayPal Holdings and Deutsche Bank have canceled plans to add jobs in the state after it passed a law requiring people to use bathrooms or locker rooms in schools and other public facilities that match the gender on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity. Haslam said he decided to sign the counseling bill in part because it forbids denial of service to patients in danger of harming themselves or others. Earlier this month, Haslam disappointed some Christians in the state when he vetoed legislation that would have made the Bible Tennessee’s official book. The governor said that violated the U.S. Constitution. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: tennessee law allow counselors deny service based beliefs this version april story corrects paragraph read north carolina south carolina by alex dobuzinskis reuters tennessee republican governor wednesday signed law allowing mental health counselors refuse service patients sincerely held principles latest string state measures criticized discriminatory gay community governor bill slam signed bill law three weeks approved legislature it goes effect immediately the substance bill address group issue belief system slam said statement rather allows counselors allow professionals like doctors lawyers refer client another counselor goals behaviors would violate sincerely held an earlier version bill allowed counselors refuse service patients religious grounds amended remove direct reference religion the law protects therapists counselors legal action cite personal principles refusing service despite provision american counseling association code ethics barring members denials service this measure rooted dangerous misconception religion used free pass discriminate hey weinberg executive director american civil liberties union tennessee said statement weinberg called bill one series attacks lesbian gay bisexual transgender community following last year ruling supreme court striking state bans gay marriage slam previously told nashville public radio considering effect legislation may tennessee citizens laws criticized discriminatory lgbt community drawn increased scrutiny several states in north carolina number companies including papal holdings deutsche bank canceled plans add jobs state passed law requiring people use bathrooms locker rooms schools public facilities match gender birth certificate rather gender identity slam said decided sign counseling bill part forbids denial service patients danger harming others earlier month slam disappointed christians state vetoed legislation would made bible tennessee official book the governor said violated constitution politicsnews