This bill amends Section 135 of the Michigan Penal Code to clarify the legal definitions and implications surrounding the abandonment of newborns. It specifies that a parent or individual who exposes a child under 6 years of age with the intent to injure or abandon is guilty of a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bill introduces an affirmative defense for cases where a newborn is surrendered to an emergency service provider or a newborn safety device, stating that a criminal investigation cannot be initiated solely based on the surrender of a newborn under the safe delivery of newborns law.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the provisions do not apply to mothers who surrender newborns under the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, while also holding attending physicians accountable if they fail to comply with this act during an attempted abortion. The bill includes new definitions for terms such as "newborn safety device" and "safe delivery of newborns law," and it updates existing definitions to align with current legal standards. The amendments are set to take effect 90 days after enactment, contingent upon the passage of related legislation.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 750.135