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The Safe
Surrender
Baby Law
(also
known
as the
Safe Haven
Law or
Newborn
Abandonment
Law) was
signed
into law
by Governor
Davis
in September
2000 and
went into
effect
on January
1, 2001.
The purpose
of the
law is
to protect
babies
from being
hurt or
killed
because
they were
abandoned.
The law
allows
a parent
or legal
guardian
to confidentially
surrender
an infant,
three
days old
or younger,
to any
hospital
emergency
room.
As long
as the
baby has
not been
abused
or neglected,
the person
may surrender
the baby
without
fear of
arrest
or prosecution
for child
abandonment.
No names
are required
and the
parent(s)
will not
be subject
to prosecution
for child
abandonment.
The baby
will receive
needed
medical
treatment
and be
placed
in an
adoptive
home.
The following
are answers
to some
frequently
asked
questions:
What
is the
Safe
Surrender
Baby
Law?
The Safe
Surrender
Baby Law
allows
a parent
or person
with lawful
custody
to surrender
a baby
confidentially,
without
fear of
arrest
or prosecution
for child
abandonment.
This law
allows
for at
least
a 14-day
cooling
off period,
which
begins
the day
the child
is voluntarily
surrendered.
During
this period,
the person
who surrendered
the child
can return
to the
hospital
to reclaim
the child.
How
Does
it Work?
A distressed
parent
who is
unable
or unwilling
to care
for an
infant
can legally,
confidentially
and safely
surrender
their
baby within
three
days of
birth.
All that
is required
is that
the baby
be brought
to a hospital
emergency
room and
physically
surrender
the infant
to any
staff
member.
As long
as the
child
shows
no signs
of abuse
or neglect,
no name
or other
information
is required.
A bracelet
will be
placed
on the
baby for
identification.
A matching
bracelet
will be
given
to the
parent.
The bracelet
will help
connect
the parent
to the
baby if
the parent
wants
the baby
back.
Does
a Parent
Have
to Give
Any
Information
to the
People
Taking
the
Baby?
No. Nothing
is required.
Hospital
personnel
will give
the parent
a medical
information
questionnaire
designed
to gather
family
medical
history,
which
would
be useful
in caring
for the
child.
It is
up to
the parent
if they
wish to
give any
additional
information
concerning
the baby.
What
happens
to the
Baby?
The baby
will be
examined
and given
medical
treatment,
if needed.
Child
Protective
Services
will place
the baby
in a foster
or pre-adoptive
home.
What
Happens
to the
Parent?
Parents
who safely
surrender
their
baby may
leave
the hospital
emergency
room or
other
designated
site without
fear of
arrest
or prosecution
for child
abandonment.
Their
identity
will remain
confidential
and they
will have
the comfort
of knowing
their
baby will
remain
in safe
hands.
If during
the 14-day
cooling
off period
the parents
decide
that they
want to
reclaim
the baby,
they can
take the
identifying
bracelet
back to
the hospital,
where
staff
will provide
information
about
the baby.
Why
is California
Doing
This?
The purpose
of the
Safely
Surrendered
Baby Law
is to
protect
babies
from being
hurt or
killed
because
they were
abandoned.
You may
have heard
tragic
stories
of babies
left in
dumpsters
or public
toilets.
The persons
who committed
these
acts may
have been
under
severe
emotional
distress.
The mothers
may have
hidden
their
pregnancies
for fear
of what
would
happen
if their
families
found
out. Because
they were
afraid
and had
nowhere
to turn
for help,
they abandoned
their
infants.
Abandoning
a baby
puts the
child
in extreme
danger
and it
is illegal.
Too often
this results
in the
baby's
death.
Because
of the
Safe Surrender
Baby Law,
this tragedy
doesn't
ever have
to happen
in California
again.
Safe
Surrender
Logo
The Safe
Surrender
Logo was
adopted
by the
State
for use
in its
Safe Surrender
Baby Law
campaign, "No
Shame, No
Blame, No
Names." The
logo also
serves
as uniform
site marker,
and will
be displayed
prominently
at all
designated
Safe Surrender
sites.
A new
California
law requires
all designated
safe surrender
sites
in California
to post
this logo.
— 06-0817c |
