Assembly Bill 237 proposes to amend the safe haven law in Wisconsin by extending the age limit for infants eligible for relinquishment from 72 hours to 30 days. Under the current law, a newborn infant can be taken into custody by law enforcement, emergency medical technicians, or hospital staff if the parent relinquishes custody without intent to return or leaves the child in a designated safety device. The bill maintains the immunity from civil or criminal liability for parents and individuals assisting in the relinquishment process.

The proposed changes are reflected in several sections of the statutes, specifically amending 48.195 (1m) (a) (intro.), 48.355 (2d) (b) 5., and 48.415 (1m). Each of these sections replaces the term "72 hours" with "30 days," thereby broadening the scope of the safe haven law to include infants up to 30 days old. This legislative change aims to provide more options for parents in crisis situations, allowing them to safely relinquish custody of their infants within a longer timeframe.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 48.195(1m)(a)(intro.), 48.195, 48.355(2d)(b)5, 48.355, 48.415(1m), 48.415