Garden State Times

The New Jersey Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado aimed at protecting the lives of newborn babies. The bill, known as S-2828 and substituted by A-4110, expands the existing Safe Haven Infant Protection Act to offer parents additional options for safely surrendering their newborns.

Senator Corrado expressed her satisfaction with the bipartisan support received for the bill, stating, "Today's Senate vote secured strong bipartisan support of my legislation that would protect more newborns in New Jersey. We've all seen reports that more newborns are being safely surrendered as awareness of the State's Safe Haven Law increases."

Highlighting the importance of providing alternatives for parents facing difficult decisions, Senator Corrado emphasized, "Although it is a difficult decision for any parent to give up their newborn, safe havens have provided an alternative for parents to drop-off infants rather than putting their child in harm's way. This legislation would expand New Jersey's Safe Haven Law to provide parents with an additional life-saving option for their child after giving birth."

The amended law now allows parents to voluntarily surrender their child to a hospital after birth, in addition to the existing options of surrendering the child to a hospital emergency room or a first responder at a designated station. The bill ensures that parents who make use of these facilities will be protected from prosecution, and hospital employees accepting surrendered babies in good faith will also be shielded from legal action.

Senator Corrado underscored the significance of raising awareness about available options, stating, "Every adult and teen parent who feels unprepared to care for their newborn should be aware of life-saving options that are available for their infant child." She further expressed her pride in supporting a measure that not only safeguards infants from dangerous situations but also prevents parents from facing legal consequences.

The bill's passage in the Senate marks a step towards enhancing protections for newborns in New Jersey and providing crucial support for parents in challenging circumstances.