Counseling group considers relocating Nashville conference over therapist bill

• The American Counseling Association is set to hold its annual conference in Nashville in April.
• The group opposed Tennessee's new therapist law and is considering relocating its conference.
• The ACA expects 3,000 people to attend and bring $4 million in local and state tax revenue.
• Gov. Bill Haslam signed the controversial law on Wednesday.

The fallout over Gov. Bill Haslam's recent signing of a bill that allows licensed counselors or therapists to deny clients could begin with the cancellation of an upcoming conference scheduled to take place in Nashville.

The American Counseling Association, which is set to hold its annual gathering at Music City Center next April, is thinking about heading elsewhere. At stake is a conference that the group says would bring more than 3,000 conventioneers to Nashville, generate up to $4 million in combined local and state tax revenue and have a local economic impact of up to $10 million.

Art Terrazas, the association's government affairs director, told The Tennessean that the group's governing council is weighing options, but he didn't have a time frame on when it would know whether it would stay committed to Nashville or find an alternative site.

"They're looking at that decision right now in light of the governor's action and decision to sign the bill into law," Terrazas said. "A final decision has not been made yet, but we are looking at that."

The counseling association, based in Alexandria, Va., has never held its annual convention in Nashville and is among the new trade associations attracted to city following the construction of the city-financed $623 million Music City Center in 2013. The ACA held its annual conference last year in Montreal.

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The organization has been tracking the Tennessee therapist legislation and made clear weeks ago it could abandon Nashville as a convention site if the governor signed the bill.

"WARNING: In light of recent legislative actions in Tennessee, ACA is currently weighing options regarding the location of the 2017 Conference and Expo," reads a notice posted on the group's website. "More information coming soon."

When The Tennessean asked Haslam on Wednesday if the state was open for business, the governor said, "Absolutely. We have the track record to prove that."

The association repeatedly condemned the legislation as lawmakers advanced it this year in the Tennessee General Assembly, saying it was unnecessary because counselors already have authority to refer clients to others for professional but not for discriminatory reasons. The national group called for Haslam to veto the measure, arguing that Tennesseans in need of counseling — especially youths in rural areas with limited access to therapists — could be harmed.

"We hope the ACA thoughtfully considers all that Nashville and Tennessee have to offer and chooses to host its 2017 conference here," Haslam spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals said Thursday.

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Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., said Thursday that although they are disappointed, they respect Haslam's decision. Spyridon indicated that additional convention groups besides ACA could also cancel planned events in Nashville.

"We had several clients who expressed their concerns over this bill, and how it may affect their decisions to meet in our city," Spyridon said. "It’s too early to know how they (concerned convention groups) will respond, but we will work directly with them to minimize the impact. We hope our clients understand this does not reflect Nashville’s long-standing values of being an open and welcoming city."

The Nashville CVC had expressed similar concerns with legislation that sought to regulate which school restrooms transgender students could use, but that bill died before the legislative session concluded.

The Tennessee chapter of the American Counseling Association wants the national organization to keep its annual conference in Nashville. Lisa Henderson, a board member for the Tennessee Counseling Association, said doing so demonstrates that people can come together despite differences.

“I think we have an opportunity to set a different expectation where if you disagree with somebody you don’t turn your back on them,” Henderson said. “You sit down and you talk about it.”

Henderson doesn’t expect the legislation to have much of an impact on day-to-day practices of counselors in Tennessee, but the profession’s public perception did take a hit. The state chapter is brainstorming ways to make sure counseling is an emotionally safe option, and bringing all professionals to the table.

In a statement Wednesday announcing his decision to sign the counselor bill into law, Haslam said he signed the legislation after much consideration and because of provisions in the law that require referrals so clients in imminent danger can’t be turned away.

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“The substance of this bill doesn’t address a group, issue or belief system. 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," Haslam said. "I believe it is reasonable to allow these professionals to determine if and when an individual would be better served by another counselor better suited to meet his or her needs."

Haslam is trying to balance good policy, business interests and the will of a legislature dominated by his own party when signing the legislation, said Kent Syler, an assistant political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University.

“Someone needs to keep their eye on the state’s overall image and economic health, but at the same time there are a lot people who feel that outside interests are blackmailing the state and they kind of double down,” Syler said. “Gov. Haslam and governors in several other states have kind of been put in the middle with some of this recent election-year legislation.”

Plus, Haslam has to work with the legislature for another two years, and using the veto power too often could harm his chances of implementing other policy he wants passed, Syler said.

Spyridon said the convention and visitors corporation worked with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in an effort to communicate the negative impact of several bills state lawmakers considered this year.

"We will continue our efforts to stop legislation that is damaging to the economic activity generated by the hospitality industry for our city and state,” Spyridon said.

The measure, which immediately became law after Haslam signed it, shields counselors from civil lawsuits, criminal prosecution and sanctions by the state licensing board for counselors who refuse to provide services, as long as they coordinate a referral of clients to another counselor who will serve them.

A provision in the law prevents counselors and therapists from denying anyone who is seeking or undergoing counseling if the client is “in imminent danger of harming themselves or others.”

Tennessee has been at the center of a growing national debate over several bills lawmakers across the country have been considering as part of an effort aimed at providing protections to some people, which others have called discriminatory practices.

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29. Reach Holly Meyer at 615-259-8241 and on Twitter @HollyAMeyer.​ Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.

Across the nation

Tennessee's newly enacted law that allows counselors or therapists to deny service to clients is one of several proposed bills from lawmakers throughout the nation that seek to provide protections, largely centered on religious beliefs, to those who decline to employ or serve certain people. 

ALABAMA: Alabama lawmakers introduced a measure to prevent the state from refusing to license child care service providers who decline services that conflict with their religious beliefs.

MISSISSIPPI: A new law prohibits the government from taking "any discriminatory action" against religious organizations that decline to host same-sex marriages.

NORTH CAROLINA: A new law prevents local and state government from mandating protections for LGBT people in the private sector or at stores and restaurants. 

Sources: The Tennessean; Associated Press