Assembly to vote on abandoned baby bill

Erin Neff

Thursday, May 10, 2001 | 8:25 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An Assembly panel struggled Wednesday with how a woman can safely abandoned her newborn baby, but determined that any saved infant lives were worth proceeding with a bill.

Senate Bill 191, sponsored by Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, would allow a parent to abandoned an unwanted infant at an emergency services provider such as a hospital, police or fire station.

The measure requires the baby be handed to an employee of the emergency service provider or placed somewhere safe on the property where it can be found. The parent would then have to contact the emergency service provider to disclose the baby's location.

The Assembly Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved the measure after two small amendments proposed to nullify panel member concerns.

The substantive amendment allows the parent to contact the emergency service provider after leaving the child. The bill had previously required the parent to phone the local emergency number to identify the location of the infant.

Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, had expressed concerns that a parent could still be prosecuted for leaving a baby on the doorstep of a hospital, for example, but failing to call the hospital.

"How are we going to be sure people understand that responsibility?" Leslie asked.

Witnesses suggested an aggressive media and public service announcement campaign to inform people about the option. A representative of Planned Parenthood suggested the provision be taught in sex education and health classes.

Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, who testified in support of the bill as one of the co-sponsors, said the measure begins the process of addressing the complex issue of infant abandonment.

Cegavske said the bill would offer a new parent an alternative to dumping the baby in a Dumpster or trash bin.

The bill requires the infant to be less than 30 days old and in good physical health, in order to be abandoned.

Once the child is abandoned, the parent relinquishes adoption rights and allows the emergency services provider to find the baby a home.

Witnesses from anti-abortion groups and religious organizations testified in favor of the measure.

The bill now goes to the Assembly for a vote.