PoliticsRead Next
Investigative
Kentucky man indicted on attempted fetal homicide charge
Nancy Flanders
·Spotlight Articles
Alaska approves use of baby boxes with expanded Safe Haven bill
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed legislation on September 9 that will allow the utilization of infant safety devices, such as safe haven baby boxes, for use within the state's safe haven surrender law.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Senate Bill 9 on September 9.
The bill allows the use of infant devices like safe haven baby boxes for infant surrender.
Under the state's safe haven law, infants 21 days or younger may be surrendered if parents feel unable to care for them.
Senate Bill 9 expands the state's safe haven law to allow for safe haven baby boxes. Often placed within hospitals, police stations, or fire stations, safe haven baby boxes allow for anonymous surrender of an infant parents feel unable to care for. In Alaska, parents may surrender a child 21 days or younger.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Robb Myers, who noted that it offers more options for parents in crisis.
“Safe surrender laws are a tool to help save lives,” Myers said after the bill's passage in May. “SB 9 puts another tool in the kit to help parents in crisis and keep babies in safe environments instead of the side of the road.”
Dunleavy signed the bill at a fire station in North Pole, surrounded by first responders and some of the lawmakers who made the bill possible.
Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, the bill's House sponsor, also praised its passage.
This is about choosing compassion, safety and life,” Tomaszewski said in a statement. “We want to make sure that when someone makes the courageous decision to surrender a newborn safely, there are clear, accessible and dependable systems in place to protect that child and get them the care they need.”
Though the legislation allows for the use of any infant safety device that meets the necessary qualifications, those most typically used are from the Safe Haven Baby Box organization.
These 'boxes' include a climate controlled bassinet often installed in the side of a building. After the child is placed inside, the door automatically locks and a silent alarm is triggered, alerting emergency authorities. Within minutes, those responders retrieve the child. The baby may be temporarily placed with a foster family and/or with an adoptive family.
Monica Kelsey, founder of the Safe Haven Baby Box Organization, was in Alaska to celebrate the bill's signing. She noted that Alaska is the 27th state to now allow the use of baby boxes for infant surrenders.
"We have saved over 300 babies through our Baby Boxes and the Baby Box hotline," she noted, adding that her organization is "all about saving moms and babies."
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Nancy Flanders
·
Politics
Cassy Cooke
·
Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·
Politics
Cassy Cooke
·
Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·
Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·
Pop Culture
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·
Investigative
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·
Abortion Pill
Bridget Sielicki
·Alaska approves use of baby boxes with expanded Safe Haven bill
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed legislation on September 9 that will allow the utilization of infant safety devices, such as safe haven baby boxes, for use within the state's safe haven surrender law.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Senate Bill 9 on September 9.
The bill allows the use of infant devices like safe haven baby boxes for infant surrender.
Under the state's safe haven law, infants 21 days or younger may be surrendered if parents feel unable to care for them.
Senate Bill 9 expands the state's safe haven law to allow for safe haven baby boxes. Often placed within hospitals, police stations, or fire stations, safe haven baby boxes allow for anonymous surrender of an infant parents feel unable to care for. In Alaska, parents may surrender a child 21 days or younger.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Robb Myers, who noted that it offers more options for parents in crisis.
“Safe surrender laws are a tool to help save lives,” Myers said after the bill's passage in May. “SB 9 puts another tool in the kit to help parents in crisis and keep babies in safe environments instead of the side of the road.”
Dunleavy signed the bill at a fire station in North Pole, surrounded by first responders and some of the lawmakers who made the bill possible.
Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, the bill's House sponsor, also praised its passage.
This is about choosing compassion, safety and life,” Tomaszewski said in a statement. “We want to make sure that when someone makes the courageous decision to surrender a newborn safely, there are clear, accessible and dependable systems in place to protect that child and get them the care they need.”
Though the legislation allows for the use of any infant safety device that meets the necessary qualifications, those most typically used are from the Safe Haven Baby Box organization.
These 'boxes' include a climate controlled bassinet often installed in the side of a building. After the child is placed inside, the door automatically locks and a silent alarm is triggered, alerting emergency authorities. Within minutes, those responders retrieve the child. The baby may be temporarily placed with a foster family and/or with an adoptive family.
Monica Kelsey, founder of the Safe Haven Baby Box Organization, was in Alaska to celebrate the bill's signing. She noted that Alaska is the 27th state to now allow the use of baby boxes for infant surrenders.
"We have saved over 300 babies through our Baby Boxes and the Baby Box hotline," she noted, adding that her organization is "all about saving moms and babies."
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Nancy Flanders
·Politics
Cassy Cooke
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Cassy Cooke
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·Pop Culture
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·Investigative
Bridget Sielicki
·Politics
Bridget Sielicki
·Abortion Pill
Bridget Sielicki
·