SB209 Alabama 2023 Session

Sponsors

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to infants; to add a new Chapter 25A to Title 26 of the Code of Alabama 1975; to require certain safe haven locations 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 provide certain affirmative defenses to a parent who surrenders a newborn infant; to exempt a surrendered newborn infant from certain reporting requirements; to provide for a limitation of liability; to authorize the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules; and 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.

Description

<p class="bill_description"> Under existing law, a parent may surrender a 72-hour old or younger infant to a hospital that operates an emergency department</p><p class="bill_description"> Also under existing law, a parent who surrenders a child has an affirmative defense to the charges of nonsupport, abandonment of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would repeal existing law relating to leaving an abandoned infant with an emergency medical services provider and replace it with a new chapter allowing a parent to surrender a newborn infant to a safe haven location, which includes an emergency medical services station, fire station, or law enforcement agency</p><p class="bill_description"> 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</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would require a safe haven location or hospital to accept a surrendered newborn infant</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would require certain hospitals to provide medical care to the infant and presume that the infant qualifies for Medicaid</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would require the Department of Human SB209 INTRODUCED Resources to take custody of the surrendered newborn infant and place the infant with a licensed child- placing agency</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would provide certain affirmative defenses to a parent who voluntarily surrenders a newborn infant and provide that a surrendered newborn is not subject to any mandatory reporting and investigation requirements, unless there is actual or suspected child abuse or neglect</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would allow a parent who surrenders a newborn infant to reclaim custody of the infant until a court terminates parental rights</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would provide immunity from liability to safe haven locations and hospitals that provide care to a surrendered newborn infant</p><p class="bill_description"> This bill would also authorize the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules to implement this chapter</p><p class="bill_entitled_an_act"> Relating to infants; to add a new Chapter 25A to Title f the Code of Alabama 1975; to require certain safe haven locations and certain hospitals to accept a surrendered newborn infant; to give the Department of Human Resources SB209 INTRODUCED custody of a surrendered newborn infant; to allow a parent who surrenders a newborn infant to reclaim the infant in certain circumstances; to provide certain affirmative defenses to a parent who surrenders a newborn infant; to exempt a surrendered newborn infant from certain reporting requirements; to provide for a limitation of liability; to authorize the Department of Human Resources to adopt rules; and 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. </p>