A bill that would expand the time and locations mothers may leave newborns without penalty advanced unanimously in the state House on Friday.
House Bill 391, sponsored by state Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, would extend the time a mother can give up a newborn from seven to 30 days and add police and fire stations to the list of allowed safe harbor locations.
A mother would not be prosecuted for leaving a newborn in the custody of an employee at a police or fire station if the newborn is no more than 30 days old, and she would be allowed to decline to provide her name.
The state Department of Human Services would take the newborn into custody and reimburse for any medical costs.
The bill, which received a vote of 173-0, passed on Crossover Day, a key deadline for legislation to move from either chamber and still be considered for the legislative session.
Check out Crossover Day action
It’s Crossover Day, the 28th day of Georgia’s 40-day legislative session, when bills must move from one chamber to the other and still have a clear path to becoming law this year. While parliamentary maneuvering can keep a bill alive past Crossover Day, making it from one side of the Capitol to the other by the end of Friday makes final passage in 2017 much more likely.
To follow the action, check out The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's bill tracker.
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