Signed by Governor Rick Snyder

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes adoption agencies to withhold services that conflict with the agency's religious beliefs.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a child-placing agency to withhold services if those services conflict with, or create a circumstance that conflicts with, the agency’s documented religious beliefs (Sec. 14).

• Requires a child-placing agency that withholds service to provide the applicant with written referrals, including the following referrals (Sec. 14):
• A referral to another agency that is willing and able to provide the service; or
• A referral to a list of agencies on the Department of Human Services website.

• Prohibits a state or local unit of government from taking an “adverse action” against a child-placing agency on the basis that the agency has decided to accept or not accept a referral from the Department of Human Services (Sec. 14).

• Defines “adverse action” as actions including, but not limited to, the following actions (Sec.14):
• Actions cancelling a child-placing agency’s funding;
• Actions cancelling a contract with the child-placing agency; or
• Actions cancelling the child-placing agency’s license.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes child placement agencies to withhold services that conflict with the agency's religious beliefs.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a child-placing agency to withhold services if those services conflict with, or create a circumstance that conflicts with, the agency’s documented religious beliefs (Sec. 14).

• Requires a child-placing agency that withholds service to provide the applicant with written referrals, including the following referrals (Sec. 14):
• A referral to another agency that is willing and able to provide the service; or
• A referral to a list of agencies on the Department of Human Services website.

• Prohibits a state or local unit of government from taking an “adverse action” against a child-placing agency on the basis that the agency has decided to accept or not accept a referral from the Department of Human Services (Sec. 14).

• Defines “adverse action” as actions including, but not limited to, the following actions (Sec.14):
• Actions cancelling a child-placing agency’s funding;
• Actions cancelling a contract with the child-placing agency; or
• Actions cancelling the child-placing agency’s license.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes child placement agencies to withhold services that conflict with the agency's religious beliefs.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a child-placing agency to withhold services if those services conflict with, or create a circumstances that conflict with, the agency’s documented religious beliefs (Sec. 14E).

• Prohibits a state or local unit of government from taking any adverse action against a child placing agency on the basis that the agency has decided to accept or not accept a referral from the Department of Human Services (Sec. 14F).

Full Bill Text