Crimes: sexual exploitation: clergy.

The bill text was reformatted from a traditional legislative document layout (with numbered lines, page headers like '96' and section markers) into a web page format with navigation menus (home, accessibility, FAQ, search, etc.) and without line numbers. The underlying legislative content is identical.

The entire amendment to Section 7520 of the Business and Professions Code (Private Investigator Act) was deleted. The bill no longer makes changes to private investigator licensing provisions.

The definition of 'member of the congregation' was narrowed to apply only when the clergy member is providing therapeutic services. Previously it applied broadly to any person within the clergy member's congregation regardless of whether therapeutic services were being provided.

The legislative declaration in subdivision (g)(2) was changed from referring to 'members of the clergy' generally to 'members of the clergy providing therapeutic services,' reinforcing that the bill's intent is limited to clergy who provide therapeutic services rather than all clergy.

A new subsection (a)(2) creates a separate criminal offense for any member of the clergy providing therapeutic services (or holding themselves out as such) who engages in sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, or sexual contact with a current or former patient, client, or member of the congregation within two years following termination of therapeutic services, when the relationship was terminated primarily for that purpose.

A new definition of 'therapeutic services' was added: counseling, mental health guidance, spiritual counseling involving treatment of emotional, psychological, or behavioral conditions, or other services substantially similar in nature to psychotherapy, whether or not the provider is licensed by the state.

Fiscal committee review and state-mandated local program designation were both changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal analysis and imposes costs on local agencies.

Adds 'member of the clergy' to Section 729 of the Business and Professions Code, making clergy subject to the same sexual exploitation prohibitions that already apply to physicians, psychotherapists, research psychoanalysts, student research psychoanalysts, and alcohol and drug abuse counselors.

Adds a new subdivision (g) clarifying that inclusion of clergy does not apply the entire Psychology Licensing Law (Chapter 6.6) to duly ordained members of the recognized clergy or religious practitioners doing psychological work consistent with their profession, provided they do not state or imply they are licensed to practice psychology.

The original nonsubstantive change to Section 7520 (changing 'he or she' to 'they' in the Private Investigator Act) is retained but is now a secondary provision rather than the sole purpose of the bill.

Defines 'member of the clergy' as a priest, minister, ordained religious practitioner, or similar functionary of a church, temple, or recognized denomination or organization. Defines 'member of the congregation' as any member, parishioner, worshiper, adherent, or other person within the clergy member's congregation.

Establishes a tiered penalty structure: single act with one victim carries up to 6 months in county jail and/or $1,000 fine; acts with two or more victims or repeat offenses carry 16 months to 3 years in state prison and up to $10,000 fine.

States legislative intent that clergy perform their functions pursuant to a code of conduct at least as stringent as the existing sexual exploitation prohibitions applicable to other covered professionals, and that similar penalties apply for violations of that code of conduct.

Fiscal committee changed from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program changed from 'no' to 'yes' because the bill now expands the definition of a crime. A no-reimbursement provision was added under Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.