Bill > SB944

This bill amends Title 67 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to establish nondiscrimination protections for adoption, foster care, and kinship care agencies. The bill defines key terms like "gender identity or expression" and prohibits county and public/private agencies from discriminating against potential adoptive, foster, or kinship parents based on characteristics such as disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, or communicable diseases. Specifically, agencies cannot deny parental opportunities, delay child placements, or require additional screenings solely due to these protected characteristics, unless such actions are necessary to protect the child's health or welfare. The bill also ensures that agencies cannot discriminate against children or families during placement-related services and stipulates that no agency can deny parental opportunities based on religious preferences that would violate the Pennsylvania Constitution. Additionally, the bill requires the department to create regulations to implement these nondiscrimination provisions, and the law will take effect 60 days after passage.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=944