Subcommittee hears split testimony on baby boxes and safe-haven expansion; public-health, fire service and DSS raise different concerns

The Domestic Relations, Business and Probate Law Subcommittee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 3113, a proposal to expand safe-haven law to permit newborn safety devices (so-called baby boxes) at designated sites such as fire stations.

Sponsor Representative Dillard said the measure is intended to complement Daniel's Law and cited growing adoption in other states. He described the baby box as a monitored, patented device that can offer resources to a parent and provide an anonymous option to surrender an infant.

The committee received sharply divergent testimony. Dr. Martha Edwards, president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, urged members to oppose HB 3113 and a related bill H.4696. "We ask you to vote in opposition to H 3113 and H 4696," she told the subcommittee, arguing that expanding anonymous relinquishment could unintentionally increase risks to children, including trafficking and placing medically fragile infants at greater risk. Dr. Edwards said pediatricians favor prevention and stronger family supports rather than wider anonymous surrender options.

Jamie Helm, legislative chair for the South Carolina State Fire Association, said firefighters and fire stations are already designated safe-haven locations and support giving first responders another tool to protect infants. Helm urged a change to a provision that would require "immediate" transport to a hospital after retrieval, saying that a strict "immediately" mandate could force unsafe vehicle transports. He urged language that would allow crews to "arrange for appropriate safe transport of the infant to a hospital or a hospital outpatient facility."

The Department of Social Services (Connolly Ann Ragley) summarized Daniel's Law and said the agency has serious concerns about baby boxes. Ragley told the committee baby boxes are not FDA-approved medical devices, are not Underwriters Laboratories–certified, and cost approximately $20,000–$25,000; she also said a vendor holds a patent limiting customization of signage and packet contents. Ragley cited instances from other states and noted DSS data showing 77 infants surrendered in South Carolina since 2009 and that about 98% of those infants were born in hospitals. She warned that removing houses of worship from the statute and enabling anonymous boxes could reduce opportunities for human contact and support for parents.

Committee members pressed on operational and liability questions: whether stations would require 24/7 staffed coverage, how alarm and 911-notification redundancies would work, what jurisdictions would pay for equipment and maintenance, and whether noncompliant devices could expose municipalities to liability. Chief Helm and others said alerting systems and local protocols would mitigate many risks, but committee members emphasized the need for clarity on testing, certification, deployment costs and who would carry liability.

Because the meeting reached its required adjournment time, members did not take a final vote on HB 3113; Chair Bernstein adjourned the subcommittee and indicated remaining discussion will be continued at a later date.

Ending note: the hearing balanced child-safety and service-delivery trade-offs—pediatricians and DSS voiced regulatory and safety objections, fire officials supported an additional tool but sought operational changes, and lawmakers asked staff for follow-up detail before committing to a final position.