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GA SB375
Bill
Status
Engrossed
2/23/2018
Primary Sponsor
William Ligon
Click for details
AI Summary
- Child-placing agencies may decline referrals for adoption or foster care services from the Georgia Department of Human Services based on the agency's sincerely held religious beliefs, provided the declination complies with federal law including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- When a child-placing agency declines a referral, the department must immediately redirect those services to another child-placing agency and may not consider the declination when evaluating the child's best interests
- The department is prohibited from taking any "adverse action" against a child-placing agency for religiously based declinations, with adverse action broadly defined to include denial, cancellation, or refusal to renew funding, contracts, or licenses, as well as enforcement actions
- For services not referred under a department contract, child-placing agencies may also decline to perform any service that conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs without facing adverse action from the department
- The department or child-placing agency may assert this law as a defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding, though the law does not waive sovereign immunity of the state or its agencies
Legislative Description
"Keep Faith in Adoption and Foster Care Act"
Last Action
House Second Readers
2/28/2018
Full Bill Text
No bill text available