Panel advances bill to expand safe infant surrender boxes, adds tribal, signage and safety measures

The Senate Health and Social Services Committee on March 13 adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 9, which updates Alaska’s safe infant surrender statute to add protections and operational standards for safe-surrender boxes.

The substitute adds “health facility” as defined in AS 47.07.900 when owned or managed by a tribal health organization so tribal facilities are explicitly covered. The CS also amends AS 47.10.013 to require clear signage on approved devices listing a crisis hotline phone number, a list of alternatives to using the device, and a statement that placing an infant in the device “constitutes abandonment and may lead to involuntary termination of the parent’s right to the child, and release of the child for adoption or other permanent placement.” The substitute further instructs the department to consider size, safety and means to minimize unauthorized use when approving a proposed device, and it requires immediate contact with an Indian child’s tribe if the department determines the child is an Indian child.

Senator Robert Myers, sponsor of SB9, told the committee the bill is meant to “save lives” by adding another tool to allow parents in crisis a safe option to surrender infants rather than abandoning them. Committee aide Aria Wigan read the rationale for the new signage language, saying the intent is to ensure a surrendering parent is aware of a crisis hotline and alternatives, and to make explicit the legal consequences that may follow surrender.

Senator Hughes raised concern that the signage language—particularly the use of the term “abandonment”—could deter a frightened parent from using a safe-surrender device if they interpret the sign as saying they are committing a crime. Senator Myers acknowledged the wording is “a bit of a loaded word” and said the sponsor’s office and others would review the language as the bill moves through additional committees.

The substitute also gives the Department of Health discretion to approve a device’s size so boxes are large enough for newborns but not large enough to encourage misuse, according to the committee aide’s summary.

Actions and procedural history: The committee adopted the committee substitute as the working document and later moved SB9 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; the chair observed no objections when the measure was reported from committee.

What remains unresolved: Committee members asked for further coordination with the Division of Family and Community Services on the practicality of implementation and for careful review of the signage language to avoid discouraging use. The measure will be considered in subsequent committees of referral.