Senate committee hears abandoned baby legislation

THIRD ATTEMPT

By Paul Sloca ~ The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- For the third year in a row, state lawmakers are trying to pass legislation letting parents leave their newborn babies at hospitals without fear of child abandonment charges.

Sen. Michael Gibbons said Tuesday that he had scaled back the costs of this year's bill by cutting public service announcements. The lower cost may give it a better chance in a tight budget year, he said.

The intent of the legislation is to provide a safe alternative for new parents who decide they don't want their baby. The bill would allow infants up to 5 days old to be dropped off at hospitals.

"By having this and making it known, we could avoid a child dying because a panicked young mother drops a child in a restroom," Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, told the Senate Aging, Families and Mental Health Committee.

Under this year's bill, parents could be charged with a crime only if an abandoned baby showed signs of abuse. Hospital officials would have to immediately notify the Missouri Department of Social Services.

The Missouri bill is modeled after a 1999 Texas law that was the nation's first statute providing amnesty to parents who abandon infants. Nationwide, 36 states now have some sort of child abandonment law.

Anne Carmichael of the Missouri Catholic Conference said the group supports the legislation.

"We, too, feel it's a compassionate response to the situation of mother's dropping their children in dumpsters," Carmichael said. "I think in this case, we need to err on the side that we can help."

Sen. Betty Sims, chairwoman of the committee, suggested that the bill may have a better chance of passage this year if it is combined with foster care legislation.

"Somehow, it gets lost in the shuffle," said Sims, R-Ladue.

The committee did not vote on the bill. Similar legislation is being sponsored in the House by Rep. Bill Gratz, D-Jefferson City.

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Abandoned baby bills are is SB687 (Gibbons); HB1263 (Gratz).

On the Net:

Missouri Legislature: http:/www.moga.state.mo.us