SB 161 DE

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Became Law

According to the Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico have enacted infant safe haven laws that allow a parent to surrender a newborn without fear of prosecution. These laws vary in terms of where an infant can be surrendered. Delaware is among 16 states that only permit a baby to be surrendered to a hospital. Twenty-five states allow surrenders at fire stations and 25 states permit surrenders to personnel at police stations or other law enforcement agencies. This Act adds police stations to the designated safe havens where an individual may surrender a baby. This Act makes conforming amendments to other laws of this State based on this addition. Additionally, this Act codifies a portion of the original Safe Arms for Babies law, Chapter 187 of Volume 73 of the Laws of Delaware, that requires the Department of Health and Social Services to take certain actions related to the law. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

• Marie Pinkney Democratic · primary
• Larry Lambert Democratic · primary
• Sherry Dorsey Walker · primary

1. Jun 3, 2021 Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate · upper
2. Jun 9, 2021 Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits · upper
3. Jun 10, 2021 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
4. Jun 11, 2021 Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House · lower
5. Jun 16, 2021 Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 8 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits · lower
6. Jun 24, 2021 Amendment HA 1 to SB 161 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · upper
7. Jun 29, 2021 Amendment HA 1 to SB 161 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
8. Jun 29, 2021 Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES · lower
9. Jun 30, 2021 Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT · upper
10. Oct 14, 2021 Signed by Governor · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Bill Text · HTML
• Bill Text · PDF
• HA 1 to SB 161 · PDF
• HA 1 to SB 161 · HTML