A bill that would help fund the installation of “baby boxes” for infant surrender is headed to the desk of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe for signature.
House Bill 121, the “Safe Place for Newborns Fund,” creates a state fund to match up to $10,000 of the cost of the installation of the baby boxes, which are temperature-controlled, alarmed units where parents can safely surrender a newborn they feel unable to care for. These boxes are often placed in hospitals or fire stations, and any child placed inside is tended to within minutes. The legislation also expands the state’s surrender timeframe from 45 days to 90 days.
In addition to the baby box funding, the bill expands the tax credit for maternity homes and diaper banks and establishes a “Zero-Cost Adoption Fund,” which helps the state’s residents pay for adoption costs, with priority given to those adopting from foster care.
Rep. Jim Murphy, the bill’s sponsor, called the legislation “a pro-life bill that everybody agrees with.”
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Rep. Melissa Schmidt praised the adoption-positive portions of the bill.
“Any time we can make not only the adoption process smoother and more cost-efficient and also put supports in place to ensure that the adoption is successful, that’s an easy yes for me,” she said.
According to the Missouri Independent, the cost of installing a baby box is typically around $20,000. The current budget has earmarked $250,000 for the program, allowing for the installation of 25 additional baby boxes in the state in the next fiscal year.
Rep. Marlene Terry affirmed the importance of the boxes as an additional support for parents who want to surrender a child.
“It’s always very important when we can find safety for our children, especially newborns and loved ones,” said Terry. “Every community, every fire station possible within their city or town needs to have one of those baby incubators.”
The bill passed the state Senate with a vote of 31-1, and the House with a vote of 136-1, and is now awaiting Kehoe’s signature.
