Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2019 (S. 274)

S. 274 would prohibit the federal government, and any state or local government that receives federal funding for any program that provides child welfare services from discriminating or taking any adverse action against a child welfare service provider that declines to provide, facilitate, ore refer for a child welfare service that conflicts with the provider’s “sincerely held” religious beliefs or moral convictions.

The bill bars such prohibition from applying to Social Security Act requirements that forbid state entities from denying or delaying adoption or foster care placements on the basis of an adoptive parent’s or a child’s race, color, or national origin. The bill provides no exception for sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to withhold 15% of the federal funds that a state or local government receives for such programs if the state or local government violates this bill.

An aggrieved child welfare service provider may assert such an adverse action violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and to obtain all appropriate relief.

If passed, the bill would allow child welfare providers the right to discriminate in, or refuse, the services they offer (such as child placement, counseling, and abuse assistance) to LGBTQ families and children.

Related Legislation

Companion bill to H.R. 897.

Identical to H.R. 1881/S.811, which failed to pass during the 2017-2018 legislative session.

Latest Action

1/30/19 – Introduced; referred to the Committee on Finance.

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