The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1310, aims to enhance the safety and legal options available for parents in crisis by allowing hospitals to install safe haven bassinets on the exterior walls of their emergency departments. This initiative is designed to facilitate the voluntary surrender of infants, specifically those thirty days old or younger, to designated hospital staff. The bill amends existing statutes, particularly sections 17a-57 and 17a-58, to ensure that designated employees in emergency rooms are authorized to take custody of surrendered infants and that proper procedures are followed to protect the anonymity of the parents.

Key provisions of the bill include the requirement for hospitals to have a designated employee on duty during regular hours and to provide a secure, climate-controlled bassinet that automatically locks upon the placement of an infant. Additionally, the bill stipulates that health care providers must notify designated employees when a mother wishes to surrender her infant at the hospital, and it allows for the collection of medical history information from parents, although they are not obligated to provide it. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to prevent infant abandonment by providing a safe and legal alternative for parents in distress.

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