Governor signs safe haven bill
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
Gov. Dave Heineman signed the state’s safe haven bill late Wednesday morning, though he said he has some misgivings about the broad nature of the Nebraska measure.
A parent who leaves a child or infant at a local hospital cannot be prosecuted for abandonment or child neglect under the measure that gained legislative approval last week.
Other states have limited their safe haven laws to infants, but the Nebraska bill eliminated any mention of age to satisfy opposition to the proposal.
Related Link(s):
- 2.7.08: Lawmakers approve safe haven bill
- 1.31.08: Bill would provide safe haven for children of any age
- 1.16.08: Sound Off: Should the Legislature pass a safe haven law?
- 7.25.07: Our View: Nebraska should offer safe havens
- 7.22.07: Two sides to safe-haven debate
- 3.9.07: Filibuster threatens safe haven bill
“Yes, I am going to sign it. Yes, I have some concern,” Heineman said during a Wednesday morning news conference. “We have decided to expand beyond infants.”
But senators can make adjustments to the law in future years if problems develop, he said. Health and Human Services will be developing common sense rules and regulations as they apply to the safe haven law, Heineman said.
Nebraska became the 50th state to provide a place where parents parents can leave a baby, no questions asked.
Alaska’s governor signed that state’s safe haven bill into law Monday.
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