Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
05/03/2006 08:30 AM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB442 | |
| HB190 | |
| HB322 | |
| HB422 | |
| HB190 | |
| SJR17 | |
| HJR9 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 442 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 322 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 322-SAFE SURRENDER OF BABIES
9:31:12 AM
CHAIR RALPH SEEKINS announced CSHB 322(JUD) AM to be up for
consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE LADOUX introduced her aide, Christine
Marasigan.
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, Staff to Representative LeDoux, introduced
the bill, which she referred to as the "Safe Surrender of
Infants Act." To date there are 47 states with similar
legislation. It is a bill that would allow parents to safely
surrender an infant up to 21 days after birth without fear of
being criminally prosecuted. The intent of the bill is to
encourage people to not abandon infants in a way that could lead
to injury or death. There are letters of support in the bill
packet from Planned Parenthood and the Alaska Women's Lobby.
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH asked whether the bill has seen any
opposition.
MS. MARASIGAN stated no.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked the current process for when someone
abandons a baby.
MS. MARASIGAN deferred the question to Tammy Sandoval.
9:34:13 AM
TAMMY SANDOVAL, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Children's
Services (OCS), Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS),
introduced herself and JAN RUTHERDALE, Assistant Attorney
General, Department of Law (DOL).
CHAIR SEEKINS reiterated his question regarding the legal
process when a parent abandons a baby.
MS. RUTHERDALE explained the process for when a mother abandons
her child under HB 190; the official that she abandons the child
to would immediately contact OCS and DHSS. OCS would contact the
DOL and together they would file for a petition for child in
need of aide (CINA). It would be treated as any CINA petition
and the grounds would be abandonment. If the mother refuses to
name the father it makes things harder but that is also common.
As far as issuing a birth certificate, there would be one
issued.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked the process if it were the father that
brings the child in.
MS. RUTHERDALE said there would be no difference. The process
would be the same. She did note that a paternity test is simple
to do and orders are easy to obtain.
MS. SANDOVAL added that the issue is to address young mothers
who become overwhelmed by the prospect of parenthood. It is a
passionate response, she said, and the Department wants to
encourage the parent to surrender the baby without fear of
prosecution. There are contingencies that state the parent
cannot have abused or neglected the child. She said she believes
the bill would address the rare circumstance of abandonment.
9:38:16 AM
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS noted the purpose of the bill was to stem
the cases of children being abandoned in unsafe areas or
conditions.
MS. RUTHERDALE agreed.
9:40:16 AM
CHAIR SEEKINS closed public testimony.
SENATOR GUESS moved CSHB 322(JUD) AM from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. Hearing no
objections, the motion carried.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|