Downloads
CS/CS/HB 791 — Surrendered Infants
by Health & Human Services Committee; Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee; and Rep. Cobb and others (SB 1690 by Senator McClain)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill (Chapter 2025-17, L.O.F.) statutory provisions relating to surrendered infants, revising the definition of “infant” and defining “infant safety device.”
The bill provides an additional method of lawful surrender by authorizing a hospital, an emergency medical services (EMS) station, or a fire station that is staffed 24 hours per day to use a qualifying infant safety device in order to accept surrendered infants.
The bill requires a hospital, an EMS station, or a fire station that uses an infant safety device to use the device’s surveillance system to monitor the inside of the infant safety device 24 hours per day, to physically check the device at least twice daily, and to test the device at least weekly to ensure the alarm system is in working order.
The bill requires that a participating fire station must use the dual alarm system of the infant safety device to dispatch immediately the nearest first responder to retrieve any infant left in the infant safety device in the case that all firefighter first responders are dispatched from the fire station for an emergency.
Existing provisions related to the presumption that the parent intended to surrender the infant, consented to appropriate medical treatment and care, and to termination of parental rights; the care and custodial processing of an infant upon lawful surrender; and the parent’s anonymity upon surrender, are extended by the bill to occasions when infants are surrendered in an infant safety device.
Lastly, the bill further provides technical and conforming changes, such as utilizing the term “surrendered” instead of “left,” or “child” instead of “minor.”
These provisions were approved by the Governor and take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 33-4; House 106-0