Social workers in Texas are now allowed to turn away LGBTQ clients and those with a disability.
At the direction of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted to eliminate disability, sexual orientation and gender identity from the nondiscrimination clause of the code of conduct.
On Monday, the board made the decision during a meeting with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, which oversees regulatory agencies for professions related to mental health, according to NBCDFW.com
Advocacy and professional organizations are already lashing out against the move.
The National Association of Social Workers criticized the board's decision to follow the governor's recommendation rather than seek public comment.
Will Francis, director of the association's Texas chapter, told the board during public comments that their decision was "incredibly disheartening."
Governor Abbott's office said the change was made simply to align the rules with the state's Occupations Code, which determines how and when the state may discipline social workers.
"It's not surprising that a board would align its rules with statutes passed by the Texas Legislature," said Renae Eze, spokeswoman for Governor Abbott's office.
"Pro-discrimination groups couldn't get this passed into law," Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said in the release, "but Gov. Abbott has done their bidding by pushing it through administratively in an obscure meeting when he thought few people were watching."
The Assiciated Press contributed to this report.
