NEW JERSEY – Legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado that protects the lives of newborn babies by giving parents more options to surrender their infants safely and anonymously was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizen Committee.
“We’ve all seen reports that more newborns are being safely surrendered as awareness of the State’s Safe Haven law increases,” said Corrado (R-40). “Although it is a difficult decision for any parent to give up their newborn, safe havens have provided an alternative for parents to drop-off infants rather than putting their child in harm’s way. This legislation would expand New Jersey’s Safe Haven law to provide parents with an additional life-saving option for their child after giving birth.”
The Safe Haven Infant Protection Act allows parents to anonymously hand over a child that is up to thirty days old to a hospital emergency room, or first responders at a police, fire, or EMS station that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no questions asked.
Senator Corrado’s bill, S-2828, amends the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act to also allow parents to voluntarily surrender their child to a hospital after giving birth. The bill clarifies that the law’s new provision will protect parents from prosecution whether they surrender the child in the hospital after birth or leave the infant later at an acceptable drop-off location.
Hospital employees and staff who accept the surrendered babies in good faith would also be protected from prosecution under the amended law.
“Every adult and teen parent who feels unprepared to care for their newborn should be aware of the life-saving options that are available for their infant child,” Corrado said. “Giving parents more options to safely surrender their newborn after birth not only protects more infants from an otherwise dangerous or deadly situation it prevents parents from being prosecuted as well. Expanding our Safe Haven law will save lives.”
