Pierre, S.D., Mar 13, 2017 / 19:01 pm
While religious adoption agencies have been shut down in various parts of the United States after facing pressure to place children with same-sex couples, they now have a few more legal protections in South Dakota because of a new law.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed S.B. 149 after it passed the House of Representatives by a 43-20 vote and the Senate by 27-8.
The governor said he was concerned that private child placement agencies acting in a child's best interest could face a lawsuit if South Dakota bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the Associated Press reports.
Backers of the law cited the fate of adoption agencies in other states that have faced the revocation of their license to operate, funding cuts, and the denial of contracts under strict anti-discrimination policies and laws.