Tennessee HB 2169: Adoption - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Foster and Adoptive Parent Protection Act," which generally prohibits the department of children's services from requiring a current or prospective adoptive or foster parent to affirm, accept, or support any government policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the parent's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 37.

Bill Text

Amendment No. 2 to SB1738

Rose
Signature of Sponsor

AMEND Senate Bill No. 1738* House Bill No. 2169

SA0752
017102
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by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, is amended by adding the following
as a new chapter 6:
37-6-101.
This chapter is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Foster and Adoptive
Parent Protection Act."
37-6-102.
(a) The department of children's services shall not require a current or
prospective adoptive or foster parent ("parent") to affirm, accept, or support any
government policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the
parent's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.
(b) The department shall not deny a parent's eligibility to foster or adopt based,
in whole or in part, upon the parent's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding
sexual orientation or gender identity.
(c) The department shall not establish or enforce a standard, rule, or policy that
precludes consideration of a parent for a placement based, in whole or in part, upon the
parent's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender
identity. Such beliefs do not create a presumption that any particular placement is
contrary to the best interest of the child.
37-6-103.

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(a) This chapter does not preclude the department from considering the religious
or moral beliefs of an adoptive or foster child or the child's family of origin, including in
relation to the religious or moral beliefs of a prospective adoptive or foster parent, when
determining the most appropriate placement for that child.
(b) This chapter must be read in harmony with the duty of the department to
make placements consistent with the best interests of the child, pursuant to chapter 2 of
this title.
SECTION 2. If any provision of this act or the application of any provision of this act to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or
applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
that end, the provisions of this act are severable.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2024, the public welfare requiring it.