Bill > SB9

This bill amends Alaska's existing laws regarding the safe surrender of infants by expanding the options for parents to legally and safely abandon an infant without facing prosecution. The bill introduces a new provision allowing parents to surrender infants through an "infant safety device" located at specific designated facilities like hospitals, emergency departments, health clinics, police departments, and fire departments. These infant safety devices must meet strict requirements, including being climate-controlled, visible to employees, marked with appropriate signage about support services and potential legal consequences, and equipped with automatic 911 emergency notifications, video surveillance, and a secure automated lock. The bill maintains existing protections that allow parents to surrender infants to specific personnel like peace officers, physicians, and emergency medical service workers without facing criminal charges, and it extinguishes the parent's legal duty to support the child. Additionally, the bill requires immediate notification to the department when an infant is surrendered, provides liability protection for receiving facilities, and mandates special consideration if the surrendered infant is an Indian child. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, giving facilities and organizations time to prepare for implementing the new infant safety device requirements.

Health and Social Services

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB9