Bill providing for baby havens passed

MONTPELIER, Vermont — A proposal allowing new mothers to leave their babies with health care or emergency workers without facing criminal penalties has passed both the Senate and the House, and will now go on to Gov. James Douglas.

The administration has supported the measure and Douglas likely is to sign the bill establishing the so-called "baby safe havens."

Both Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, a Republican, and Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, a Democrat, have supported the idea, which passed the Senate last year and was approved by the House this session. This week the Senate agreed to changes proposed by the House and the bill is likely complete in everything except minor details.

The goal of the legislation is to allow distraught new mothers to leave their babies somewhere safe, rather than abandoning them and risking their deaths.

"It's sort of like a lifeguard. They may not do anything for years until something happens," said Sen. Richard Sears, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Vermont remains one of the last states in the country without such a measure.

"I am very, very pleased the Senate has move on this. I am confident we can find agreement on it and move it on to the Governor," said Rep. William Lippert, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

"It's simply tragic that anyone would be in such distress they would ever contemplate abandoning their child," Lippert added. But when such a thing happens it is important the lives of the children are protected, lawmakers said.

"This is really about saving the lives of these babies," Lippert said.

One important thing is that the bill requires that mothers hand their babies over to workers or volunteers at a health care facility, fire station, police station or place of worship, legislators said. Mothers cannot leave them unattended even at those locations without being subject to penalties.

There is a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for endangering a baby's life by abandoning it. The bill also increases the potential fine for doing so from $1,000 to $10,000.

Under the bill babies can only be left in the care of workers at such "safe havens" until they are 30 days old.

"It's good to be part of the majority," said Dubie, referring to the fact that Vermont is joining most of the rest of the states in having such a provision. "This could potentially make the difference for a young mother and a new baby."

Lawmakers said that both anti-abortion and abortion rights groups testified in favor of the bill in its final form.

It is likely that Douglas will sign the bill.

"He is 100 percent behind the safe haven bill," Spokesman Jason Gibbs said.