Marley Elizabeth Greiner
maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net
The bad news: Safe Haven laws, which allow for the "legal and anonymous abandonment" of newborns, have passed in six states this year: Maine, Washington, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri. In Tennessee, bills supported by fathers' rights advocates that would have gutted that state's current Safe Haven anonymity clause died in House and Senate committees. Supporters say they will continue to introduce proposals until the law is changed. At the end of August, the California legislature passed AB 2817, which included language to authorize the introduction of Safe Haven abandonment education into the curriculum. Gov. Gray Davis is expected to sign. This spring, Davis also authorized the release of Prop. 10 funds to pay for statewide "No shame, no blame" baby dump education and advertising. Several California jurisdictions recently established Safe Haven task forces or committees to work on extending baby drop-off points to fire stations. And in July, in a fit of uncustomary zeal, L.A. County officials set up a 24-hour toll-free Safe Haven hotline with 40 operators who speak more than 16 languages.
The good news: As of this writing (September 2002) the much-publicized Massachusetts Safe Haven HB 4980 appears to be a no-go. Currently the state legislature is in recess, but a reliable source informs us that due to the diligent work of Sen. Teresa Murray and Reps. Kathy Teahan and John Rogers, the proposal will probably not be carried through to next session. Earlier this year, a Safe Haven proposal in Virginia was withdrawn for vote at the last minute when the patron could not collect enough support to secure passage. The proposal is expected to be heard again next session. Much Bastard thanks to Mary Zoller for her excellent work in keeping this law off the books in the Old Dominion. This spring, Bastard National Terri Leber was appointed to a Washington State Safe Haven task force.
Alaska, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wyoming continue to hold the line and have either defeated baby dump proposals or none have been introduced.
To read more on why Bastard Nation opposes Safe Haven legislation go to www.bastards.org/activism/legalized-abandonment.html. If you would like weekly Safe Haven updates you can subscribe to Baby Dump News published by BN Executive Chair Marley Greiner. To sign on contact her at maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net.
(This feature appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)
Copyright 2003 Marley Greiner
All Rights Reserved