A bill that allows faith-based adoption and foster placement agencies to refuse service based on religious beliefs is one vote away from the governor’s desk.
An amendment added on the House floor requires any agency that denies child-placement to provide prospective parents a list of other adoption agencies in the state.
Critics say Senate Bill 149 allows faith-based organizations to use a religious litmus test on otherwise qualified families who hope to adopt or foster children.
A section of the bill allows these organizations to apply for state support.
The South Dakota House of Representatives voted 43 to 20 in favor of the measure.
Democrat State Representative Susan Wismer voted against the bill.
“Since when does government subsidize agencies that want to do good things, but only for people whose belief system the agency approves of?” Wismer says.
Proponents say some faith-based adoption agencies dropped their programs because they didn’t have religious protection.
Republican State Representative Steve Haugaard sponsors the legislation.
“If it weren’t for private organizations and faith based organizations, our state would not be able to comply at all with the needs of the general public,” Haugaard says.
Because House lawmakers made changes, the bill need another approval from the Senate by a vote or conference committee.
Governor Dennis Daugaard says he’s not committed to signing or vetoing Senate Bill 149.