Safe Haven for Infants Act
Rhode Island · Health and Safety · §§ 23-13.1-1 to 23-13.1-8 · 8 sections
Overview
The act establishes a legal framework allowing a parent to relinquish an infant anonymously at a designated safe haven site rather than abandoning the child unsafely. It sets out who may leave an infant and under what conditions, the intake and notification duties of personnel at a safe haven site, and the role of the state child welfare agency in taking custody and placing the child. It also provides a process for a parent who later seeks reunification, and grants immunity from liability or prosecution to those who act in accordance with its terms.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
In the courts
Sections of this act have been cited in 1 court decision.
Most-cited authority: 385 F.3d 846 - McCorvey v. Hill
Sections covered
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-1Short title1 cite
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-2Definitions
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-3Voluntary surrender of infant child
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-4Immunity
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-5DCYF — Procedure
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-6Awareness program
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-7Annual report to the legislature
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-8Severability
Enacted in other states
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