1) The best interests of the child should be the sole factor in deciding whether a child should be placed with a prospective foster care or adoptive parent or parents.

2) State-licensed child placing agencies should not be allowed to discriminate against children or prospective parents based on race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability and family status.  Religious organizations should be allowed to discriminate when they are fulfilling their religious roles.  When they volunteer to help fulfill a governmental function such as adoption or foster care placement, those organizations represent the Commonwealth and should not be permitted to discriminate.

3) The State Board of Social Services should restore to the final rules the protections against such discrimination included in the proposed rules.