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File Photo. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder answers questions during an interview in December 2011.
(AP Photo | Al Goldis)
LANSING, MI -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's blessing is likely the only thing standing in the way of legislation that would formally allow faith-based adoption agencies to decline working with gay parents on religious grounds.
A five-member panel on Wednesday advanced a House-approved package to the Senate floor, where Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof has already expressed a strong interest in the bills.
The votes may already be there for passage in the GOP-dominated Senate, but a spokesperson said earlier this week Meekhof won't rush action amidst ongoing talks with the administration.
"He wants to make sure that, ultimately, any thing that comes to the governor is signed by the governor," said spokeswoman Amber McCann.
Snyder, for his part, has not definitively stated whether he would sign or veto the bills. But he "has raised concerns" with earlier and current versions, spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said Thursday.
"We'll be closely reviewing (the) latest changes and working with Sen. Meekhof and other legislative partners," Wurfel said of the bills, last modified before passage in the House.
"The governor and administration have a strong commitment to ensuring the most responsive, effective adoption system possible and we've made key progress in strengthening children's services and matching kids in foster care with permanent families. That is always the outcome we need to help meet."
Critics say the legislation is not focused on what's best for kids and amounts to state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians, who can be turned away by agencies which receive government funding for the adoption services they provide.
"Rather than ensuring that adoption determinations are made based on the best interest of the child, these discriminatory bills put the 13,000 children in Michigan's foster care system at risk of finding safe and loving homes," Ellen Kahn of the Human Rights Campaign said in a statement.
HRC, the nation's largest LGBT rights organization, on Thursday announced that a coalition of child advocacy groups is also opposing the Michigan bills, including The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association and the Child Welfare League of America.
Supporters say the proposal would codify existing state policy and protect faith-based organizations, who would be required to refer prospective parents to another agency if they decline to provide service that conflicts with their "sincerely held religious beliefs."
Religiously-affiliated agencies in other states, including Illinois, have reportedly chosen to close down rather than comply with new regulations they consider inappropriate.
The legislation would "ensure a diverse range of child placement agencies continue to operate in collaboration with the state on behalf of vulnerable and neglected children," Tom Hickson of the Michigan Catholic Conference said Wednesday.
"While a greater number of placements are needed now more than ever, it makes for good public policy to protect the faith-based agencies' successful relationship with the State in order to ensure more rather than fewer options are available to families."
The Michigan Department of Human Services currently allows private adoption agencies to decline to perform adoption services for any reason at the time the state refers a foster care case to them, according to a spokesperson. But once an agency agrees to take a case, they can't change their mind.
The legislation would prohibit the state from taking any adverse action -- such as denying funding or canceling a contract -- against an agency that declines services on religious grounds. The agency would be required to "promptly refer" the prospective parent to another agency and provide a link to a state website listing other agencies.
Snyder has previously expressed concern that the legislation could lead to potential lawsuits, which is something the ACLU of Michigan is already "looking into," according to LGBT Project attorney Jay Kaplan.
"Some of these agencies are saying they already discriminate, and they're taking taxpayer money," said Kaplan. "It certainly raises issues about separation of church and state. The state is not supposed to promulgate a religious view point or to subsidize that form of discrimination."
Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.