Gentile hails House passage of Safe Haven legislation

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, said today she is pleased a bill she supported to educate parents about Safe Haven laws has passed the House of Representatives on a 127-73 vote.

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

“The Safe Havens program has been there for young women in some of the most desperate moments of their lives,” Gentile said. “Sometimes young mothers are not aware of all their options, but this bill will ensure that women are informed about the safe haven program and laws. The more people are educated about the Safe Haven program, the more infants can be saved from abandonment.”

House Bill #7273 will:

• Teach Safe Haven laws in schools to avoid tragic consequences of young mothers not being aware of all of their options. 
• Require the Department of Children and Families to provide the state Board of Education with instructional materials relating to the safe haven law.

Since its passage in 2000, Connecticut’s Safe Havens law has saved 27 infants from abandonment and near certain death. 

The law allows anyone to drop off a newborn baby (30 days old or younger) at any hospital emergency room in Connecticut. 

The person dropping off the baby will remain anonymous, and the police will not be called. 

The bill also allows the state Board of Education to issue an occupation instructor permit to an applicant that is under contract or employed by a private occupational school to teach nursing.

The bill will now be heard before the Senate.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.  

Gentile lauds House passage of safe havens bill

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby), announced Wednesday a bill she co-sponsored to strengthen protections for individuals caring for infants in the custody of the Department of Children and Families under the state's safe haven program, has passed the House of Representatives.

State Rep. Linda Gentile

““The Safe Havens program is one that has supported women in some of the most desperate moments of their lives,” Gentile said. 
“With Safe Haven, mothers and parents can make decisions with peace of mind and know that their child is protected. I will continue to support anything we can do to improve and strengthen the safe haven law and this bill does just that.”

House Bill #7121 makes various changes to the state's safe haven law: 

• Requires the Department of Children and Families to identify an adoptive parent for a safe haven infant within one business day of receiving notice of the infant's surrender
• Specifies circumstances under which DCF may require DNA tests to determine the infant's parentage
• Limits the circumstances in which DCF may remove a safe haven infant from a prospective adoptive parent's home 
• Clarifies the information a hospital employee may disclose about a safe haven surrender if he or she believes the infant was abused or neglected
• Prohibits DCF from disclosing information about the parents of a safe haven infant to a prospective adoptive parent or foster parent without a court order unless otherwise required by law

Since its passage in 2000, Connecticut’s Safe Havens law has saved 27 infants from abandonment and near certain death. The law allows anyone to drop off a newborn baby (30 days old or younger) at any hospital emergency room in Connecticut. 
The person dropping off the baby will remain anonymous, and the police will not be called. 


This is a press release from Gentile's office.