LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - An effort to protect state funding for faith-based child placement groups that refuse to work with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender foster parents has died in the Nebraska Legislature.
Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward asked lawmakers to abandon the bill Friday, saying he didn’t have 33 votes to overcome the filibuster his opponents promised.
Kolterman says the bill is a preventative measure to ensure agencies could still operate while adhering to religious principles.
Opponents say the religious exemption would allow broad discrimination in Nebraska’s foster care system. The ACLU of Nebraska warned the bill could prompt a civil rights lawsuit and jeopardize federal funding.
Kolterman says he’s confident senators will debate the issue again.
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The bill is LB975
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