SB 1358 (The Save A Baby bill) Becomes Law
SB 1368, authored by Senator Jim Brulte, goes into effect January 1. (In San Bernardino County it went into effect practically when the District Attorney announced he would no longer prosecute new mothers for child abandonment.) This new law allows the mother or other person having custody to drop off a newborn (72 hours old or less) at a hospital emergency room without fear of prosecution for child abandonment. It provides anonymity for the mother. If she changes her mind within 14 days, she may reclaim the baby upon matching the coded numbered armband given her with the baby’s armband. Otherwise the infant is turned over to the county’s child protective or welfare services.
Hospitals are now developing policies to implement their response to the law. And a digest suitable for use with patients by physicians, nurses, other health care workers, school counselors, etc. will be posted on the IWIN website community resources page as the information from the hospitals becomes available.
The text of the bill as passed and signed by the Governor may be seen at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/sen/sb_1351-1400/sb_1368_bill_20000928_chaptered.html
The bill’s legislative history, digest, analysis, and background may be seen at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/sen/sb_1351-1400/sb_1368_bill_20000824_amended_asm.html
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