Alaska Senate Approves Bill for Safe Infant Surrender Devices
The Alaska Senate has passed a significant bill aimed at preventing infant abandonment by allowing the installation of devices in the state. The legislation, which legalizes Safe Haven Baby Boxes, was approved with a vote of 18-2. Notably, two Senators—Bert Steadman, a Republican from Sitka, and Loki Tobin, a Democrat from Anchorage—voted against it.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are designed to ensure that parents can surrender their newborns safely, reducing the risk of tragic outcomes. These temperature-controlled incubators are typically built into the walls of fire stations, police stations, and hospitals, allowing easy access. Parents can place their babies inside the box, after which the outer door locks, providing them an opportunity to leave before an alarm alerts first responders and hospital staff.
Once a baby is surrendered, the immediate next step involves transporting the newborn to a hospital for health assessments. Generally, the baby is then placed into state custody and is frequently adopted shortly thereafter.
Alaska has had a safe haven law since 2008 that permits the surrender of newborns up to 21 days old directly to designated personnel at fire departments, hospitals, or through police officers. Since that legislation was enacted, only about one infant per year has been surrendered, according to Republican Senator Rob Myers, who sponsored the current bill.
However, it’s worth noting that three abandoned infants have been found in Alaska since 2013. Unfortunately, two of those were found deceased, while one was discovered alive in a box during a cold winter in Fairbanks. Myers emphasized that these safe surrender devices could potentially save lives, suggesting that the stigma and fear of being recognized often prevent parents from seeking help. The goal of the temperature-controlled boxes is to eliminate those barriers.
Support for this bill comes from several organizations, including the Anchorage Fire Department, the Alaska Children’s Fund, and the City of Fairbanks. The legislation will proceed to the Alaska House of Representatives for further consideration.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes first emerged in Indiana around nine years ago, and have since expanded to at least 425 locations across the United States. More than 70 newborns have been surrendered through these boxes, and the organization has also aided over 150 individuals in connecting with other safe havens.
Additionally, Safe Haven Baby Boxes operates a confidential national hotline, 1-866-99BABY1, which offers free counseling and information regarding safe surrenders, including options for in-person surrenders.
