SPONSOR: Murphy
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Children and Families by a vote of 16 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 9 to 0.
Currently, newborn safety incubators are authorized to be installed in certain locations for a relinquishing parent to leave a newborn child, up to 45 days of age, without fear of prosecution. This bill modifies the age limit of a newborn infant that may be brought to a newborn safety incubator from 45 days old to 90 days old.
Additionally, the bill creates the "Safe Place for Newborns Fund" and provides that the State of Missouri will match moneys from the General Revenue Fund, in the amount of up to $10,000 per installation of newborn safety incubators.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that over 3,000 babies have been saved through this type of intervention and that this is a reprieve for those who work on these across the State but who may have trouble funding such boxes. The State is unique in that it has a larger number of persons and facilities to whom or to which a baby can be relinquished.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Murphy; Missouri Catholic Conference; Campaign Life Missouri; Fire Chief Brian Hendricks, Mehlville Fire District; Missouri Right To Life; Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: