Raising Age of Voluntary Relinquishment of Child

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is listed as empty in the metadata, so it is unknown when this law officially takes effect despite being signed.

Raising Age of Voluntary Relinquishment of Child

This law raises the age limit for parents to safely give up a newborn from less than 72 hours old to 30 days or younger and requires rules for reunification.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the maximum age for voluntary relinquishment from less than 72 hours old to 30 days or younger.
• Allows parents to leave their baby with firefighters, hospital staff, or community clinic emergency center workers if the child is 30 days old or younger.
• Requires the Department of Human Services to create rules for a process that allows either parent to reunify with a relinquished child.

Who It Names or Affects

• Parents with babies aged 30 days or younger
• Firefighters, hospital staff, and community clinic emergency center workers
• The Department of Human Services

Limits and Unknowns

• The specific steps for reunification are not listed because the Department of Human Services must write those rules later.
• This law does not explain what happens if a parent tries to give up a child older than 30 days.

Official Summary Text

Under current law, a parent can voluntarily relinquish their child to a firefighter or hospital or community clinic emergency center staff member if the child is less than 72 hours old. The act allows a parent to voluntarily relinquish their child if the child is 30 days old or younger and requires the department of human services to adopt rules establishing a process for either parent of child who was relinquished to reunify with the child.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)