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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 13, 2013 09:43 AM |
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| From: | Representative Rosita C. Youngblood |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Adding police stations to Pa. Safe Haven Law |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation amending the Newborn Protection Act (Ch. 65 of Title 23 Domestic Relations), which is also known as the Pennsylvania Safe Haven Law, to allow police stations to serve as safe havens in Pennsylvania. Last year, a new mother unable to care for her newborn child left her infant with Philadelphia police officers, thinking she was doing the right thing and abiding by the state's Safe Haven Law. Even the police officers believed the mother was following appropriate state law, but soon found out that, unfortunately, Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law only allows a newborn up to 28 days old to be dropped off at a hospital, and nowhere else. I intend to introduce legislation amending this law to allow an infant to be dropped off with a police officer at a police station, as well as at a hospital, so that individuals who are unable to care for their infant do what is in the best interest of the child. Under my proposal, police officers would then be directed to take the infant to the nearest hospital in order for him or her to receive immediate care and attention. Most law enforcement agencies are already providing safe haven to our youngest citizens, but we need to make sure that parents who are trying to do the moral thing under very difficult circumstances, are protected by state law. We do not want to dissuade or deter parents from seeking assistance from law enforcement when they are unable to care for their infant child. |
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Introduced as HB1090
Memo Updated: March 13, 2013 09:44 AM