Religious preference - Removal of barriers to inter-ethnic adoption

(a) The Department of Human Services and any other agency or entity that receives federal assistance and is involved in adoption or foster care placement shall not: (1) Discriminate on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of either the adoptive parent, foster parent, or the child involved; or (2) Delay the placement of a child on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or foster parent. (b) If a child's genetic parent or parents express a preference for placing the child in a foster home or an adoptive home of the same or a similar religious background to that of the genetic parent or parents, the department shall: (1) Place the child with a family that meets the genetic parent's religious preference; or (2) If a family with the same or a similar religious background is not available, to a family of a different religious background that is knowledgeable and appreciative of the child's religious background. Acts 2011, No. 591, § 1

(a) The Department of Human Services and any other agency or entity that receives federal assistance and is involved in adoption or foster care placement shall not: (1) Discriminate on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of either the adoptive parent, foster parent, or the child involved; or (2) Delay the placement of a child on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or foster parent.

(1) Discriminate on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of either the adoptive parent, foster parent, or the child involved; or

(2) Delay the placement of a child on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or foster parent.

(b) If a child's genetic parent or parents express a preference for placing the child in a foster home or an adoptive home of the same or a similar religious background to that of the genetic parent or parents, the department shall: (1) Place the child with a family that meets the genetic parent's religious preference; or (2) If a family with the same or a similar religious background is not available, to a family of a different religious background that is knowledgeable and appreciative of the child's religious background.

(1) Place the child with a family that meets the genetic parent's religious preference; or

(2) If a family with the same or a similar religious background is not available, to a family of a different religious background that is knowledgeable and appreciative of the child's religious background.

Acts 2011, No. 591, § 1