Safe Haven Bill Advances-Another Drop-off In G.I.
A 30-day age limit in the Nebraska safe-haven law appears headed for final approval. The state Legislature voted 41-6 Wednesday to give second-round approval to the limit. A final vote is expected on Friday and then the bill will go to Gov. Dave Heineman.
He has said he would support a 30-day age limit. Every state has a safe-haven law meant to protect newborns from being dumped in trash bins and worse, but Nebraska's is the only one that lacks an age limit. Most of the 35 children dropped off at Nebraska hospitals since the law took effect in July have been preteens or teenagers as old as 17.
In the meantime, State officials say a 15-year-old girl has been left at a Grand Island hospital, making her the 35th child left under Nebraska's unusual safe-haven law. The Hall County teenager left at St. Francis Medical Center late Tuesday is the first case seen outside of Lincoln and Omaha.
Todd Landry with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services' Children and Family Services Division says she was left by her guardian, a relative. The girl is now in a foster home. The current safe-haven law doesn't include an age limit. On Tuesday the Legislature, meeting in a special session, gave preliminary approval to a revision that would set an age limit of 30 days.
