Sec. 14f.
(1) If the department makes a referral to a child placing agency for foster care case management or adoption services under a contract with the child placing agency, the child placing agency may decide not to accept the referral if the services would conflict with the child placing agency's sincerely held religious beliefs contained in a written policy, statement of faith, or other document adhered to by the child placing agency. Before accepting a referral for services under a contract with the department, the child placing agency has the sole discretion to decide whether to engage in activities and perform services related to that referral. The department shall not control the child placing agency's decision whether to engage in those activities or perform those services. For purposes of this subsection, a child placing agency accepts a referral by doing either of the following:
(a) Submitting to the department a written agreement to perform the services related to the particular child or particular individuals that the department referred to the child placing agency.
(b) Engaging in any other activity that results in the department being obligated to pay the child placing agency for the services related to the particular child or particular individuals that the department referred to the child placing agency.
(2) The state or a local unit of government shall not take an adverse action against a child placing agency on the basis that the child placing agency has decided to accept or not accept a referral under subsection (1).
(3) If a child placing agency decides not to accept a referral under subsection (1), that occurrence shall not be a factor in determining whether a placement in connection with the referral is in the best interest of the child.
(4) A child placing agency may assert a defense in an administrative or judicial proceeding based on this section.
(5) For the purpose of this section, "adverse action" includes, but is not limited to, denying a child placing agency's application for funding, refusing to renew the child placing agency's funding, canceling the child placing agency's funding, declining to enter into a contract with the child placing agency, refusing to renew a contract with the child placing agency, canceling a contract with the child placing agency, declining to issue a license to the child placing agency, refusing to renew the child placing agency's license, canceling the child placing agency's license, taking an enforcement action against a child placing agency, discriminating against the child placing agency in regard to participation in a government program, and taking any action that materially alters the terms or conditions of the child placing agency's funding, contract, or license.
History: Add. 2015, Act 53, Eff. Sept. 9, 2015
Last modified: October 10, 2016