“Safe Haven” Legislation Allowing Parents of Newborns to Relinquish Their Babies Without Prosecution Passes Initial Committee Stage

Bolques-sponsored bill offers anonymity and legal safeguards for parents in emotional distress surrendering newborns

Legislation to provide a “safe haven” for newborns who are unwanted by their parents is making its way through the legislative process, having passed through the Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services on Wednesday.

Bill 35-0173 is sponsored by Senator Angel Bolques Jr., who said the measure seeks to “safeguard newborn infants from abandonment, which can lead to serious injury or even death.” The draft legislation, which allows for parents relinquishing their newborns to remain anonymous if they choose, would also “protect parents from potential civil and criminal liability in situations of extreme emotional distress,” according to Mr. Bolques.

“This is a critical but often overlooked issue,” the lawmaker told his colleagues, for which the Safe Haven Newborn Protection Act “provides a compassionate and pragmatic solution.”

The bill not only provides a mechanism for newborns to be safely relinquished but also makes provisions to educate parents about their rights, about custody, and “preserving their potential pathway to reclaim their child,” Mr. Bolques said. If passed, the proposed legislation would reportedly bring the territory in line with child protective services across the rest of the country.

Department of Human Services Commissioner Nominee, Averil George, wrote in support of the proposal, saying in her correspondence that the legislation would help to “reduce incidents where children are kept in unsafe situations by parents who wish to avoid civil or criminal penalties.”