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Old law about newborns needs new ideas to reach new moms, committee hears

Today’s women of child-bearing age may not be aware of the Safe Place for Newborns law adopted in 2000.  It allows a mother, or someone she designates, to anonymously relinquish her baby, if not more than 7 days old, without the threat of prosecution. A hospital, urgent care facility or an ambulance responding to a 911 call are permissible places to hand over an infant.

HF825 is intended to educate a new generation of young women about the option, according to Rep. Roz Peterson (R-Lakeville), the bill’s sponsor. The bill would appropriate an unspecified amount of money to the Department of Human Services for outreach and education.

The law is “old news” and a nonprofit dedicated to making women aware of it has folded, said Andrea Rau, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life legislative director. She suggested using social media campaigns and public signage as ways to reach the targeted audience.

The House Health and Human Services Finance Committee laid the bill over, as amended, Thursday for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. SF796, a companion sponsored by Sen. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley), awaits action by the Senate Health and Human Services Division.

In 2012, two children were placed into the foster care system after mothers or their designees surrendered their children under the law. In 2013, three more children were placed. During the first 12 years, an estimated 18 babies were surrendered, Rau said.

Rep. Dan Schoen (DFL-St. Paul Park) successfully amended the bill to add a provision that would give one-time funding in Fiscal Year 2016 to the eight regional emergency medical services boards that would use the money for outreach and public education. Funds could also be used to offset the ambulance costs to transport an infant to a designated “safe place.”

Schoen offered to insert $500,000 as the recommended appropriation but he later withdrew the figure at the urging of Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), who said he would rather let the committee chair determine the specific amount from the overall health and human services finance budget.

The amendment also was amended to remove a provision that would have required the Human Services Department to distribute Safe Place for Newborns information to clinics and programs that work in the area of family planning and positive abortion alternatives.

The law is not intended to replace traditional adoption; rather, it is a way to safely relinquish a baby who may be at risk of injury or death following an unplanned pregnancy, Rau said. It does not apply if the mother gives birth in a hospital.


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