Favorable
Committee: Judicial Proceedings
SB 0912
The Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is the public policy representative of the three (arch)dioceses serving Maryland, which together encompass over one million Marylanders. Statewide, their parishes, schools, hospitals, and numerous charities combine to form our state’s second largest social service provider network, behind only our state government.
Senate Bill 912 alters, clarifies, and expands certain provisions of law relating to the immunity from liability of a parent who leaves an unharmed newborn with a responsible adult under certain circumstances; requiring the Secretary of Human Services to develop, implement, and maintain a public information program to inform the public about the Maryland Safe Haven Program; and requiring the Secretary of Human Services to annually submit a report to the General Assembly about the Maryland Safe Haven Program beginning December 31, 2025.
From 1999 to 2021, at least 4,505 infants were surrendered through nationwide Safe Haven laws.(1) Safe Haven programs are designed to allow parents to surrender their child to the State with anonymity and protection, ensuring the child is left in safe conditions. The bill outlines a device in which a newborn can be received at an appropriate facility. This device is climate-controlled, securely locks the newborn inside, activates a silent alarm for medical service providers to arrive, and includes video surveillance for monitoring the newborn until assistance arrives. It recognizes that parents in crisis may be unable to safely care for their newborn and considers surrendering the baby through a Safe Haven device as the safest option for both parents and the newborn. If parents have a change of heart, they can be reunited with the newborn after paternity testing. The facilities where newborns are surrendered will have trained staff with knowledge of the law and medical expertise to care for a newborn.
Safeguarding the well-being of newborns is crucial for healthy development. When newborns are in environments that may not support their growth, surrendering the child through Safe Haven programs becomes a reasonable option for parents to ensure proper care and love. The provided anonymity can assist those in possible domestic violence situations in protecting themselves and their newborn. The Catholic Conference actively advocates for the well-being and safety of parents and newborns, emphasizing the sacredness of life from conception to natural death. Programs like the one outlined in this bill contribute to safeguarding the fragility of newborns.
For these reasons, the MCC asks for a favorable report on SB 912. Thank you for your consideration.
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1 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/06/1147160688/baby-box-newborn-surrendered-florida