Committee clears DCS bill to extend safe-haven surrender window and expand foster-youth program eligibility

The committee voted to advance House Bill 1099, an agency bill from the Department of Child Services (DCS) that would raise the safe-haven infant surrender window from 30 to 60 days and make related clarifications to protect parents who surrender infants under the safe-haven law.

Representative Dale DeVaughn, sponsor of the measure, said the change responds to fatality-review work showing a large share of abuse and neglect deaths occur before two months of age; the 60-day window is intended to give parents additional time to safely surrender an infant. Matt LaPrette, interim legislative director for DCS, told the committee the change is consistent with guidance from the National Safe Haven Alliance, which recommends 30 to 60 days; he said five other states have already expanded to 60 days.

The bill also revises statutory definitions related to “abandoned infant” to make clear that a parent who intends to use the safe-haven surrender protections is not treated as having abandoned the child in a criminal sense. In addition, the measure amends eligibility for the Ensuring Foster Youth Trust Fund — lowering the minimum age for certain driver’s-education and insurance supports to 15 so youth can begin driver's education and access related financial help earlier — and clarifies eligibility for collaborative care for certain foster youth over 18.

DCS and the bill sponsor framed the changes as continuity and safety measures; the committee’s roll call recorded unanimous support in the transcript excerpt and the bill was recommended to the floor.

Representative DeVaughn thanked DCS staff for their work on the fatal-review analysis and said the changes aim to reduce infant risk and improve supports for foster youth transitioning to adulthood.