DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 527 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Stagni
Abstract: Revises provisions of the Safe Haven Law pertaining to designated emergency care
facilities.
Present law comprising the Safe Haven Law, Ch. C. Art. 1149 et seq., provides a mechanism
whereby any parent may relinquish the care of an infant who is not more than 60 days old to the state
at a designated emergency care facility in safety and anonymity, and without fear of prosecution.
Present law designates as an "emergency care facility" any state-licensed hospital, any public health
unit, any emergency medical service provider, any medical clinic, any fire station, any police station,
any crisis pregnancy center, or any child advocacy center.
Proposed law revises present law to designate as an emergency care facility all of the following:
(1)Any state-licensed hospital.
(2)Any of the following medical clinics during normal and customary hours of operation:
(a)Local or parish public health units.
(b)Licensed rural health clinics.
(c)Licensed ambulatory surgical centers.
(d)Federally qualified health centers.
(3)Any manned fire station.
(4)Any manned law enforcement station.
(5)Any Child Advocacy Center accredited by the National Children's Alliance, during normal
and customary hours of operation.
Proposed law defines "emergency medical service provider", for purposes of the Safe Haven Law,
as a licensed emergency medical service provider, when dispatched as a result of a "911" call from
a parent who wishes to relinquish his infant. Proposed law adds firemen to the list of persons who may be dispatched in the event a parent
communicates via a "911" call that he or she wishes to relinquish an infant but does not have
transportation.
Present law lists responsibilities of designated emergency care facilities relative to infant
relinquishments. Proposed law applies such responsibilities to emergency medical service providers,
fire stations, and law enforcement stations.
(Amends Ch. C. Arts. 1150(2)-(4), 1151(A), and 1152(A), (B), (D), (E), (F)(intro. para.), and (G)-(I);
Adds Ch. C. Art. 1150(5))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill:
1. Make technical changes.