HB24 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rich Wingo

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act, state prohibited from discriminating against child care service providers based on religious beliefs, civil remedies

Summary

HB24, now law as the Alabama Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act, protects child placing agencies from state discrimination or licensing actions when they decline placements that conflict with their religious beliefs.

What This Bill Does

It bars the state from discriminating against or denying licenses to child placing agencies because they decline to provide a placement that conflicts with their religious beliefs. It prohibits adverse licensing actions—like enforcement actions, license denial or renewal denial, revocation, or suspension—against such agencies as long as they meet minimum standards. It protects the agencies' free exercise of religion and provides remedies if rights are violated, including applicable administrative procedures and constitutional protections. It clarifies that individuals' eligibility to adopt or foster remains unaffected and that other agencies may still provide placements when one agency declines.

Who It Affects

• Private child placing agencies (including religious and non-religious) that provide adoption or foster placements, who would be protected from state discrimination and adverse licensing actions when declining placements for religious reasons.
• Children and families seeking adoption or foster care, whose access to placement services remains available through other agencies and whose eligibility is not limited by an agency's religious-based declination.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits the state from discriminating against or taking adverse licensing actions against a child placing agency that declines to make a placement that conflicts with the agency's sincerely held religious beliefs, as long as the agency meets minimum standards.
• Adverse actions are defined to include enforcement actions, and actions denying, revoking, or suspending a license, and the agency must continue to meet the Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies.
• Provides remedies for harmed agencies, including procedures under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act and protections under the First Amendment and Alabama Religious Freedom Amendment.
• Defines key terms (adverse action, child placing agency, child placement service) to clarify the scope of the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Child Care Service Providers