Senate Bill 243 proposes an amendment to the safe haven law in Wisconsin, changing the maximum age at which an infant can be relinquished under this law from 72 hours to 30 days. The safe haven law allows parents to surrender their newborns to designated individuals, such as law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, or hospital staff, without facing civil or criminal liability, provided they do not express an intent to reclaim the child. This bill aims to expand the age limit for infants eligible for safe haven provisions, thereby offering parents more time to make the decision to relinquish custody.

The bill includes specific amendments to various sections of the statutes, notably changing references from "72 hours" to "30 days" in sections 48.195, 48.355, and 48.415. These changes ensure that the legal framework reflects the new age limit for infants covered under the safe haven law, thereby enhancing the support available to parents in crisis situations.

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