HB529 Alabama 2022 Session

Under existing law, a parent may surrender a 72-hour old or younger infant to a hospital that operates an emergency department

Under existing law, a parent who surrenders a child has an affirmative defense to the charges of nonsupport, abandonment of child, and endangering the welfare of a child

This bill would repeal existing law relating to leaving an abandoned infant with an emergency medical services provider and replace it with a new Safe Harbor Act

This bill would allow a parent to surrender a seven-day old or younger newborn infant to a fire station or emergency medical services station

This bill would allow a mother who gives birth in a hospital to leave a newborn infant at the hospital and to decline being named on the infant's birth certificate

This bill would require a fire station, emergency medical services station, or hospital to accept a surrendered newborn infant

This bill would require certain hospitals to provide medical care to the infant and presume that the infant qualifies for Medicaid

This bill would require the Department of Human Resources to take custody of the surrendered newborn infant and place the infant with a licensed child placing agency

This bill would provide that a surrendered newborn is not considered abandoned and is not subject to any reporting and investigation requirements, unless there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect. If there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, a hospital must report it

This bill would allow a parent who surrenders a newborn infant to reclaim custody of the infant until a court terminates parental rights

This bill would absolve hospitals, fire stations, and emergency medical services stations from certain liability relating to the care of a surrendered newborn infant

This bill would also authorize the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules to implement this chapter

Relating to infants; to repeal Sections 26-25-1 through 26-25-5, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to leaving an abandoned infant with an emergency medical services provider; to add a new Chapter 25A to Title 26 of the Code of Alabama 1975, consisting of Section 26-25A-1 through 26-25A-7; to create the Alabama Safe Harbor Act; to require fire stations, emergency medical services providers, and certain hospitals to accept a surrendered newborn infant; to give the Department of Human Resources custody of a surrendered newborn infant; to allow a parent who surrenders a newborn infant to reclaim the infant in certain circumstances; to exempt a surrendered newborn infant from certain reporting requirements; to exempt fire stations, emergency medical services providers, and certain hospitals from certain liability relating to the care of a surrendered newborn infant, unless there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect; and to authorize the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules.