The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1310, aims to enhance the process for the voluntary surrender of infants to emergency department staff in hospitals. It amends Section 17a-58 of the general statutes to allow designated employees to take custody of infants thirty days or younger when voluntarily surrendered by a parent or lawful agent. The bill introduces provisions for mothers wishing to surrender their infants at the hospital during childbirth, requiring them to notify a licensed health care provider, who will then inform the designated employee to take custody. Additionally, it allows parents to surrender infants after birth by placing them in a safe haven bassinet, which must be available at the hospital.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 17a-57 to require hospitals with emergency rooms to designate all nursing staff as authorized employees for taking custody of infants. It also permits hospitals to install a climate-controlled safe haven bassinet on the exterior wall of the emergency department, equipped with an automatic locking door and a notification alarm to alert staff when an infant is placed inside. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to provide a safe and legal option for parents in crisis, thereby preventing infant abandonment.

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