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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68642</law_id><section_number>63.2-1709.3</section_number><catch_line>Child-placing agencies; conscience clause</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="17">Licensure and Registration Procedures</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> To the extent allowed by federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>, no private <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> shall be required to perform, assist, <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any placement of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would violate the agency&#x2019;s written religious or moral <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or policies. <a id="paragraph-248443" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1709.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall not deny an application for an initial license or renewal of a license or revoke the license of a private <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> because of the agency&#x2019;s objection to performing, assisting, counseling, recommending, consenting to, referring, or participating in a placement that violates the agency&#x2019;s written religious or moral <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or policies. <a id="paragraph-248444" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1709.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A state or local government entity may not deny a private <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> any grant, <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, or participation in a government program because of the agency&#x2019;s objection to performing, assisting, counseling, recommending, consenting to, referring, or participating in a placement that violates the agency&#x2019;s written religious or moral <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or policies. <a id="paragraph-248445" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1709.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Refusal of a private <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> to perform, assist, <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in a placement that violates the agency&#x2019;s written religious or moral <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or policies shall not form the basis of any claim for <span class="dictionary">damages</span>. <a id="paragraph-248446" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1709.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2012, cc. 690, 715.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
