Bill > S0331

This bill amends South Carolina's safe haven law to provide more detailed guidelines for safely surrendering infants up to 60 days old, with a specific focus on introducing newborn safety devices. The bill defines a "newborn safety device" as a padded, climate-controlled receptacle located at specific sites like hospitals, fire stations, or emergency services stations, which must have motion sensors and dual alarm systems to immediately notify emergency services when an infant is placed inside. The law allows parents or individuals acting on behalf of parents to anonymously leave an infant at a safe haven without fear of prosecution, provided the infant is unharmed and not older than 60 days. Safe havens are required to take temporary custody of the infant, attempt to obtain medical background information (which remains confidential), and quickly transfer the infant to a hospital. The Department of Social Services will take legal custody of the infant within 24 hours, conduct a search to ensure the infant is not missing, and initiate a process to terminate parental rights. The bill also provides legal immunity for safe havens and healthcare professionals who participate in this process and mandates that the department submit an annual, anonymized report to the General Assembly about infants surrendered under this law.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0331&session=126&summary=B