Safe haven protections; newborn safety device at hospitals for reception of children.
Summary
Safe haven protections; newborn safety device. Provides an affirmative defense in certain criminal prosecutions and civil proceedings regarding child abuse or neglect to a parent who safely delivers his child within the first 30 days of the child's life to a newborn safety device located at a hospital that provides 24-hour emergency services or at an attended emergency medical services agency that employs emergency medical services personnel. The bill also provides civil and criminal immunity to such hospitals and emergency medical services agencies for injuries to children received through such newborn safety devices, provided that (i) the injuries are not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct and (ii) the hospital or emergency medical services agency meets certain requirements regarding the establishment, functioning, and testing of the device. Current law requires the child to be delivered within the first 14 days of the child's life at such hospital or emergency medical services agency. This bill is identical to SB 63.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2021
Committee Review
Feb 2022
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2022
Senate Passage
Feb 2022
Signed into Law
Apr 2022
Introduced Dec 23, 2021
Signed Apr 5, 2022
Floor votes · Senate Feb 21, 2022 · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2022
How they voted
33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Feb 21, 2022
D
Democratic17
100% Yea
R
Republican16
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
7
Committee
8
Apr 5, 2022
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 81 (effective 7/1/22)
executive
Feb 21, 2022
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 21, 2022
Upper · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB16S1
upper
Feb 21, 2022
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 22106679D-S1
upper
Feb 16, 2022
Upper · Passed
Reported from Judiciary with substitute (12-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2022
Committee
Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
upper
Feb 9, 2022
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 3, 2022
Lower · Passed
Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions (21-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2022
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
lower
Jan 28, 2022
Committee
Referred from Courts of Justice
lower
Dec 23, 2021
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Dec 23, 2021
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22101060D
lower
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Buddy Fowler
RRepublican
Co
AC
Amanda Chase
RRepublican
Co
Bill Wiley
RRepublican
Co
Chris Runion
RRepublican
Co
Ellen Campbell
RRepublican
Co
FR
Frank Ruff
RRepublican
Co
Jeffrey L. Campbell
RRepublican
Co
John Avoli
RRepublican
Co
Kim Taylor
RRepublican
Co
Mark L. Keam
DDemocratic
Co
Phil Scott
RRepublican
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