Texas Protection of Rights of Conscience for Child Welfare Services Providers (HB 3864)

HB 3864 would prohibit the state from taking adverse action against a child welfare services provider on the basis that the provider declines to provide a child care service that conflicts with the “sincerely held” religious beliefs of the provider.

The state would not be able to discriminate or take any adverse action against a child welfare services provider on the basis, wholly or partly, that the provider:

• has declined or will decline to provide, facilitate, or refer a person for child welfare services that conflict with, or under circumstances that conflict with, the provider ’s sincerely held religious beliefs;
• provides or intends to provide children under the control, care, guardianship, or direction of the child welfare services provider with a religious education, including through placing the children in a private or parochial school or otherwise providing a religious education in accordance with the laws of Texas; or
• has declined or will decline to provide, facilitate, or refer a person for abortions, contraceptives, or drugs, devices, or services that are potentially abortion-inducing.

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