AB 396

Under current law, a child whom a law enforcement officer, emergency medical

technician, or hospital staff member reasonably believes to be 72 hours old or

younger (newborn child) may be taken into custody under circumstances in which

a parent of the newborn child relinquishes custody of the newborn child to the law

enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or hospital staff member and

does not express an intent to return for the newborn child (commonly referred to as

the "safe haven law"). A law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or

hospital staff member who takes a newborn child into custody under the safe haven

law must take any action necessary to protect the health and safety of the newborn

child and, within 24 hours after taking the newborn child into custody must deliver

the newborn child to the intake worker of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction

under the Children's Code.

This bill permits a parent to relinquish custody of a child

30 days

old or younger

under the safe haven law. The bill also permits a health care clinic staff member to

take a child into custody under that law.