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 introduces new provisions that allow hospitals to install safe haven bassinets on the exterior walls of their emergency departments, which are climate-controlled and equipped with an automatic locking mechanism and a notification alarm for staff. The bill also designates all members of the emergency room nursing staff as authorized employees to take physical custody of infants surrendered under the law, ensuring that there is always a designated employee available during regular business hours.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to clarify the procedures for surrendering an infant, including the requirement for mothers to notify a licensed health care provider if they wish to surrender their infant at the time of birth. It also allows parents to surrender infants after birth by placing them in the safe haven bassinet, with the designated employee taking custody immediately. The legislation emphasizes the confidentiality of the mother's identity and provides a pamphlet outlining the surrender process. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025.

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Raised Bill: