Health and Welfare committee advances bill to place safe‑haven infants directly with adoptive families

The Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1058 to the full House with a "do pass" recommendation, advancing legislation that would allow newborns surrendered at safe‑haven locations to be placed directly with pre‑vetted adoptive families instead of entering the foster care system.

Representative Heather Scott, R‑District 2, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure "allows for safe haven babies to avoid being placed in the foster care system and instead get placed with waiting adoptive homes." She said the change aims to reduce strain on the foster system and accelerate placement with families already vetted by licensed adoption agencies.

The bill directs the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to maintain a list of licensed adoption agencies and to contact one of those agencies within 24 hours of a safe‑haven surrender, seeking placement. If placement cannot be arranged within 48 hours, the child would proceed through the ordinary foster‑care process, according to language discussed at the hearing.

Senator Julie Van Orden, R‑District…