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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Committee Report
Legislation:
HB 120
Sponsor:
Maier
Long Title:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 11, 13, AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFE ARMS FOR BABIES.
Committee:
HEALTH & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Number of Committee Members:
Date of Report:
03/21/2001
Committee Vote:
Favorable:
On Its Merits:
Unfavorable:
0
4
0
Purpose of the Bill :
The bill acknowledges that the abandonment of a baby is an irresponsible act by parents and places a baby at risk of injury or death. This legislation would give parents a "safe place" to leave a child who may otherwise be left in an unsafe place. The parents would be immune from prosecution for the crimes of Abandonment of a Child or Endangering the Welfare of a Child if they complied with this bill. The parent would be required to leave a newborn baby with an employee or volunteer at a hospital or hospital emergency room. It would be the responsibility of the hospital to notify the Division and State Police that a child had been abandoned.
Committee Findings:
This bill has been rewritten from last year's HB 555. The bill has been narrowed as to where babies can be abandoned.