Current Status

S.B. 1292 was signed by Governor Granholm on 12/28/06 with immediate effect.

This bill enhances the original Safe Delivery Act in several ways. It expands the emergency service providers to include paramedics and emergency medical technicians as safe delivery destinations. This bill also attempts to speed up the time between surrendering the baby and placing him/her into a permanent home, as well as strengthens the confidentiality of the child placement proceedings. This bill also clarifies the termination of rights of the surrendering parent to the nonsurrendering parent.

History

S.B. 1292 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Shirley Johnson on 6/7/06. It was reported out of the Senate Committee on Families and Human Services on 11/28/06 with a vote of 4-0. It was passed on the floor of the Senate on11/30/06 with a vote of 36-0. The House Judiciary Committee reported it out on12/6/06 with a vote of 12-0. It was passed on the floor of the House on 12/13/06 after being amended, with a unanimous vote of 107-0. The Senate concurred on 12/14/06 with a vote of 36-0.

Background

The original Safe Delivery Act (or “Abandoned Baby” law), enacted in the year 2000, allows a parent to surrender their newborn babies up to 72 hours old to certain emergency service providers confidentially and without being charged with child abandonment. This law has protected at least 3 dozen babies so far. It was necessary to re-address some unforeseen situations that could or did arise; this bill amends the original law to do just that.

More History

http://www.rtl.org/html/legislation/prolifeleg/summaries/SafeDelivery.html