ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: HHS DPA 9-0-0-0

HB 2410: safe havens; newborn infant age

Sponsor: Representative Espinoza, LD 19

Caucus & Cow

Overview

Increases the age of newborn infants who qualify under safe haven protocols from 72 hours old to five days old.

History

Statute requires safe haven providers to: 1) immediately transport the newborn infant to a hospital for a physical examination; 2) take custody of the infant within 24 hours of the completion of the hospital’s physical examination, unless the safe haven provider does not have the ability or desire to take custody of the infant; and 3) inform the Department of Child Safety (DCS) of the newborn infant and the location of the hospital where the infant was transported to. If the safe haven provider does not take custody of the infant within 24 hours after the hospital completes the physical examination, DCS must contact the next private adoption agency on its rotating list until an agency agrees to take custody of the infant. If an agency does not take custody of the infant within 48 hours after the hospital completes the physical examination, DCS must take custody of the infant. The medical examination and treatment provided to the infant by the hospital must be compensated by the entity or individual that ultimately takes custody of the infant, unless the infant is provided with health coverage through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Under current law, these protocols only apply to an infant who is 72 hours old or younger (A.R.S § 8-528).

A safe haven provider means any of the following: 1) on duty firefighter; 2) on duty emergency medical technician; 3) health care institution classified as a general hospital or a rural general hospital; and 4) a private child welfare agency, an adoption agency or a church who posts a public notice that it is willing to accept a newborn infant (A.R.S § 13-3623.01).

Provisions

1. Increases the infant age for which safe haven placement protocols apply from 72 hours old or younger to 5 days old or younger. (Sec. 1)

2. Clarifies that safe haven protocols apply to newborn infants rather than infants of any age. (Sec. 1)

3. Redefines newborn infant as an infant who is five days old or younger. (Sec. 2)

4. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1 and 2)

Amendments

Committee on Health and Human Services

1. Redefines newborn infant as an infant who is 30 days old or younger.

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5. HB 2410

6. Initials EB/SF Page 0 Caucus & COW

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