GA
Georgia Revises Safe Haven Law for Newborns (HB 350)
HB 350 updates Georgia's existing safe haven law, which allows parents to surrender newborns anonymously at designated locations without facing criminal charges. The revisions adjust the provisions governing how and where newborns can be safely surrendered, with the changes set to take effect July 1, 2026. The bill aims to refine the legal framework around infant safe surrender in the state.
✓ REASONS TO SUPPORT
- Updated rules may make it easier for parents in crisis to find and use safe surrender locations, potentially saving newborn lives.
- Clearer legal provisions can reduce confusion for both parents and the facilities that receive surrendered infants.
- Refining the law may better align Georgia's safe haven protections with current best practices in infant safety and family services.
- Explicit legal protections encourage parents to choose a safe surrender option rather than abandoning a newborn in an unsafe location.
✕ REASONS TO OPPOSE
- Changes to designated surrender locations or procedures could make the process less familiar or accessible to parents who knew the old rules.
- Revisions to the law may inadvertently create gaps in coverage or eligibility if the new provisions are more restrictive than before.
- Parents and care providers will need to be re-educated on the updated rules, and gaps in outreach could leave some unaware of their options.
- If the revisions reduce the number or types of approved safe haven sites, some parents in rural or underserved areas may have fewer nearby options.
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