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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: HHS DP 5-0-2-0 | Third Read 26-1-3-0 |
SB 1253: safe haven providers; hospital deliveries
Sponsor: Senator Mesnard, LD 13
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Permits a parent or parent's agent to surrender a newborn infant at the hospital of birth without requiring the parent to be discharged from or leave the hospital after the birth and subsequently return to complete the surrender.
History
State law permits designated safe haven providers to accept a newborn infant voluntarily surrendered by a parent without requiring identifying information and outlines procedures to ensure the infant receives immediate medical care and appropriate placement. Safe haven providers include: 1) on-duty firefighters; 2) on-duty emergency medical technicians; 3) health care institutions classified by the Department of Health Services as general or rural general hospitals; and 4) staff members or volunteers of licensed private child welfare or adoption agencies that publicly post notice of their willingness to accept a newborn infant (A.R.S. § 13-3623.01).
Safe haven providers are required to: 1) immediately transport the newborn to a hospital, or arrange for transportation, for a physical examination; 2) notify the Department of Child Safety (DCS) that a newborn has been left with the provider, identify the hospital where the infant was taken and indicate the agency that will assume custody after the examination; and 3) assume custody of the infant within 24 hours after the hospital completes the examination, unless the provider is unable or unwilling to take custody DCS must report the number of newborns infants delivered to safe haven providers (A.R.S. §§ 8-526 and 8-528).
Provisions
1. Permits a parent or parent's agent to surrender a newborn infant to a general hospital or rural general hospital immediately after the infant's birth at the hospital. (Sec. 1)
2. Stipulates that a parent who has surrendered a newborn infant at a hospital is not required to be discharged from or leave the hospital after the infant is born and subsequently return to the hospital before leaving the infant with the safe haven provider. (Sec. 1, 2)
3. Instructs a general hospital or rural general hospital to take custody of a newborn infant if the infant is born at the hospital and the parent notifies a staff member that the parent intends to voluntarily surrender the newborn infant and not return. (Sec. 2)
4. Requires DCS to include in its child welfare report the number of newborn infants surrendered at safe haven providers. (Sec. 2)
5. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)
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9. Initials AG SB 1253
10. 3/11/2026 Page 0 Health & Human Services
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