DeSantis signs bill increasing time parents have to voluntarily surrender their infants
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday that would increase the maximum age of an infant that can be voluntarily surrendered by his or her parents.
Among its provisions, the law will allow infants to be surrendered to hospitals, fire stations, and emergency medical stations for up to 30 days. Past law set the time range at seven days.
Reps. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, and Mike Beltran, R-Riverview, filed the legislation, HB 775. It was spearheaded in the Senate by Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville.
The bill is an expansion of current Florida law, known as the “Safe Haven Law,” which requires specific surrender to the emergency room.
“HB 775 expands the safe haven law by allowing the use of 911 to surrender a baby which protects those without access to transportation by extending the age a newborn can be surrendered from seven days to 30 days,” Canady said in February on the House Floor.
Furthermore, the law will exempt parents from criminal prosecution if they choose to surrender their infant. However, an exemption will not apply if wrongdoing is suspected and involves child abuse or neglect.
Moreover, under the law, medical staff must be notified by the parent if they do not intend to return to the child. It also requires a parent meet a provider at a specific location for the surrender.
The law will go into effect July 1.
