Longer time limit goes into effect for newborn safe haven law

CHEYENNE (WNE) — During the 2024 legislative session, House Bill 90 was passed into law with an effective date of July 1. Known as the Safety for a Newborn Child Act, this law updates the existing safe haven law to help protect newborn babies.

Now, a parent of a baby 60 days old or younger can safely give up his or her child for any reason to ensure the baby is cared for and kept safe. This is an increase from the previous limit of 14 days.

Parents can take their newborn to any of these safe haven locations, as long as the location is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

. A fire station

. A hospital

. A police department or sheriff ’s office.

The safe haven provider cannot demand any information from the person relinquishing the child, nor can they require that the person intends to reclaim the child in the future. If either parent does not seek the return of the child within three months, the parental rights will be terminated so the child can be adopted.

This story was published on July 6, 2024.