AB-1628 • 2026

Child protection: safe surrender.

Children Education Healthcare Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Michelle Rodriguez
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact details of how many new safe surrender sites will be created and the specific costs involved are not detailed in the official source.

Safe Surrender of Newborns

This law changes rules about where and when parents can safely give up newborn babies without fear of legal trouble, expanding the age limit from 72 hours to 30 days after birth.

What This Bill Does

Expands the age limit for safe surrender from 72 hours to 30 days after birth.
Requires local officials to designate more places as safe surrender sites.
Ensures that personnel at these sites must take in and care for newborns up to 30 days old.
Prevents parents or guardians who give up babies under 30 days old from being charged with child abandonment.

Who It Names or Affects

Parents and legal guardians of newborns
Local officials responsible for designating safe surrender sites

Terms To Know

Safe-surrender site: A place where parents can legally give up a newborn baby without fear of punishment.
State-mandated local program: A program that the state requires local governments to run, which may need extra funding from the state.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many new safe surrender sites will be created.
It is unclear what additional costs might be incurred by local agencies and hospitals.
The exact details of reimbursement for local agencies are determined by further review.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and HUM. S.
2026-01-27 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 26.
2026-01-26 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1628, as amended, Michelle Rodriguez.
Child protection: safe surrender.
Existing law defines a safe-surrender site to mean a location designated by the board of supervisors of a county or by a local fire agency, or a location within a public or private hospital that is designated by that hospital, to be responsible for accepting physical custody of a minor child who is 72 hours old or younger from a parent or individual who has lawful custody of that child and who surrenders the child. Existing law requires personnel on duty at a safe-surrender site to accept physical custody of the minor child, and to notify child protective services or a county agency providing child welfare services as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after accepting custody of the child.
Under existing law, a parent or other individual with lawful custody of a minor child 72 hours old or younger who voluntarily surrenders physical
custody of the child to personnel on duty at a safe-surrender site cannot be prosecuted for child abandonment.
This bill, the Keeping Infants from Danger (KID) Act, would expand the scope of these provisions to apply to children who are 30 days of age or younger. By imposing new duties on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would also make a conforming change.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted
above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF