Legislation sponsored by Rep. McManus received unanimous approval from the House Committee on Children and Families.
HCS 1568 is aimed at modernizing Missouri’s “Safe Haven” law, which currently allows a parent to relinquish custody of a baby up to 5 days old at a designated safe haven, such as a fire station or hospital, without fear of prosecution.
HB 1568 would expand the time to 45 days, which is the time currently used by Kansas and a national average for such laws.
The bill is part of a statewide effort by child advocates to raise awareness of the law in order to prevent tragic cases where newborns are abandoned in dangerous and often deadly circumstances.
For more information, please see the following:
NBC ACTION NEWS: MO Lawmaker Wants to Extend Safe Haven Law
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Missouri Rethinking Safe Haven Law
Missourinet.com: Bill would change law to let mothers relinquish newborns