Bill > LB1060

This bill, known as the Child Placement Services Preservation Act, aims to protect child-placing agencies, which are organizations that help find homes for children needing foster care or adoption, from government penalties based on their religious beliefs. The act acknowledges the state's need for more safe and supportive homes for children and recognizes the long-standing partnership with both faith-based and non-faith-based organizations in providing these crucial services. It defines "adverse action" broadly to include actions like denying or canceling funding, contracts, or licenses, and clarifies that "child placement service" involves arranging placements, promoting adoption and foster care, and supporting prospective parents. The core provision states that a child-placing agency cannot be forced to provide or facilitate a child placement service if it conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs, and if they decline, they must provide information about other agencies that can help. Furthermore, the state is prohibited from taking any adverse action against an agency for such a refusal, and agencies can use this as a defense in legal proceedings. The act also includes a severability clause, meaning if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest will still stand.

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https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63661