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Senate committee advances bill to speed adoptive placement for Safe Haven newborns
Summary
Senate Bill 1058, which would require faster transfer of custody of newborns surrendered under Idaho's Safe Haven law to licensed adoption agencies and clarify Indian Child Welfare Act notifications, was advanced out of committee after debate and tribal and adoption-agency testimony.
The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1058 to the Senate floor with a "do pass" recommendation after testimony from adoptive-agency representatives, tribal officials and foster parents about how the bill would change placement steps for newborns surrendered under Idaho's Safe Haven law.
Senator Tammy Nichols, sponsor of SB 1058, said the bill updates Idaho Code to ensure newborns surrendered at licensed hospitals, fire stations or law enforcement facilities can be placed more quickly with vetted, licensed adoption agencies. "This bill requires that the custody of the child be transferred to the selective adoption agency within 24 hours of the child being surrendered unless there's certain circumstances that exist such as medical care," Nichols said, and added that if a child requires further medical care and no adoptive family is found within 48 hours the…
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