Baby-abandoning bill OK’d

Wednesday, May 23, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- With yet another tragic case making headlines in Las Vegas, the Assembly unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would allow a parent to abandon an unwanted infant without fear of prosecution.

Senate Bill 191, sponsored by Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, would allow a parent to take a newborn to an emergency services provider, such as a hospital, police or fire station, rather than leave the infant to die in a trash receptacle.

On Monday, the body of a baby boy was found in a trash receptacle at Harrah's hotel. On Feb. 6 about 8:30 a.m. the body of a newborn boy was found in a trash bin outside a convenience store at Olive and Atlantic streets.

"The reason for this bill is to prevent these kinds of actions from taking place," said Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas.

The measure requires that the baby be handed to an employee of the emergency services provider, or be 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.

If the Senate concurs on an Assembly amendment made to the bill, the measure will be forwarded to the governor.

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