Action | Adopt new standards for licensed private child-placing agencies. |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 4/1/2011 |
This change in the law, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or family status, will result in religious adoption agencies being prevented from placing any more children. How could this be a good idea? Religious organizations have been at the forefront of taking care of orphans since time immemorial and now they will be banned from providing a vital public service. Also, how is this change benefiting children? It is one thing for an agency to be allowed to place children in the home of a same-sex couple, it is quite another to require an agency to place a child in the home of a same-sex couple if they otherwise meet the requirements. I would like to know how this change in the law benefits children. Finally, the agency description of this law is somewhat disingenuous. The biggest issue here is the discrimination language, and it is not mentioned in the agency's description of the bill, at least not that I saw. This suggests that the state government knows this will be very unpopular and is attempting to deflect opposition by burying the controversial elements of the bill. There should be further time for comment and debate on this bill.