Text of IL SB 2495 (2012)

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2011 and 2012 SB2495 Introduced 10/12/2011, by Sen. Kyle McCarter SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 750 ILCS 75/65 new Amends the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. Provides that a child welfare agency that is religiously based or owned by, operated by, or affiliated with a bona fide religious organization may decline an adoption or foster family home application, including any related licensure and placement, from a party to a civil union if acceptance of that application would constitute a violation of the organization's sincerely held religious beliefs and, if an agency declines an application, it must provide the applicant with information on how to contact the Department of Children and Family Services to obtain information concerning other regional licensed child welfare agencies. Effective immediately. LRB097 13464 AJO 58173 b A BILL FOR SB2495LRB097 13464 AJO 58173 b 1 AN ACT concerning civil law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and 5Civil Union Act is amended by adding Section 65 as follows: 6 (750 ILCS 75/65 new) 7 Sec. 65. Religious child welfare agencies. A child welfare 8agency that is religiously based or owned by, operated by, or 9affiliated with a bona fide religious organization may decline 10an adoption or foster family home application, including any 11related licensure and placement, from a party to a civil union 12if acceptance of that application would constitute a violation 13of the organization's sincerely held religious beliefs. If an 14agency declines an application pursuant to this Section, then 15it must provide the applicant with information on how to 16contact the Department of Children and Family Services to 17obtain information concerning other regional licensed child 18welfare agencies. 19 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 20becoming law.