HB3774 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 11877 AJO 55306 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3774

Introduced 5/11/2011, by Rep. Dwight Kay

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

750 ILCS 75/65 new

Amends the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. Provides that: a child welfare agency that is religiously based or owned by, operated by, or affiliated with a bona fide religious organization may opt out of fulfilling a request for services, including an adoption or foster family home application, including any licensure and placement, which would constitute a violation of the organization's sincerely held religious doctrines or beliefs; and if such an adoption or child welfare agency opts out of fulfilling such a request for services, it shall, within a reasonable period of time, refer the request to the Department of Child and Family Services or an alternative adoption or child welfare provider licensed by the Department.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act is amended by adding Section 65 as follows:

(750 ILCS 75/65 new)

Sec. 65. Religious child welfare agencies. A child welfare agency that is religiously based or owned by, operated by, or affiliated with a bona fide religious organization may decline an adoption or foster family home application, including any related licensure and placement, from a party to a civil union if acceptance of that application would constitute a violation of the organization's sincerely held religious beliefs. If an agency declines an application pursuant to this Section, then it must provide the applicant with information on how to contact the Department of Children and Family Services to obtain information concerning other regional licensed child welfare agencies.