Safe Haven Law and History

 
 
 
 
 
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Legislative Bill 157 was introduced in the 2008 Legislative Session. LB 157 was passed on Final Reading, February 7, 2008, by the vote of 41-1-7. 

The full text of LB 157 reads: "No person shall be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child in the custody of an employee on duty at a hospital licensed by the State of Nebraska. The hospital shall promptly contact appropriate authorities to take custody of the child." 

LB 157 did not provide an age limit for which a person would drop off a child at a hospital and not be prosecuted. 

In a 2008 Special Session of the Legislature, Legislative Bill 1 was introduced.  LB 1 limits the age of a child who a person can drop off at a hospital and not be prosecuted to the age of 30 days or younger.  Forty-three senators voted for the final version of LB 1. It was signed by Governor Heineman on November 21, 2008.

Historical Documents

Archived News Releases

  
  
Nebraska Has First Safe Haven Case Under New Law7/21/2008
Safe Haven Law Does Not Absolve Parents of Responsibility9/26/2008
DHHS Appeals Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge's Order10/1/2008
Two Instances of Safe Haven Law on Sunday, October 510/6/2008
Ninth Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on Tuesday, October 710/7/2008
Iowa Youth Returns Home10/9/2008
Tenth Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on Monday, October 1310/13/2008
Safe Haven Youth Returns to Michigan10/17/2008
11th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on October 2210/22/2008
12th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on October 2510/26/2008
13th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on October 2710/28/2008
14th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred This Evening10/28/2008
15th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on October 2810/29/2008
Safe Haven Youth Returns to Georgia10/29/2008
16th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred on October 2910/30/2008
Two New Instances of Safe Haven Law Brings Total Children Involved to 2611/3/2008
19th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred Last Evening11/4/2008
20th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred Thursday11/6/2008
21st Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred11/7/2008
Safe Haven Youth Returns to Indiana11/7/2008
22nd Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred Today11/10/2008
23rd Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred11/12/2008
24th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred11/13/2008
25th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred11/14/2008
Safe Haven Youth Returning to Florida and Update on 5-year-old Left on November 1311/14/2008
26th Instance of Safe Haven Law Occurred11/19/2008
Gov. Heineman Signs Safe Haven Update into Law11/21/2008
27th Use of Safe Haven Law Occurred11/22/2008
Safe Haven Youth Returning to California11/26/2008

Special Legislative Session Documents

  
  
Safe Haven Law Needs Changing - By Governor Dave Heineman10/7/2008
Governor Heineman and Speaker Flood Announce Plans to Amend Safe Haven Law10/20/2008
Governor Heineman Calling Special Session to Update Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law10/29/2008
Letter to State Senators on Safe Haven Cases11/12/2008
Safe Haven Ages in the United States11/17/2008
Comparison of Total Nebraska Children, Medicaid Eligibility, and State Wards11/17/2008
Director Landry's Testimony11/17/2008
NHA Safe Haven Sign11/21/2008
Safe Haven Model Policy for Nebraska Hospitals11/21/2008
LB1 Process Flowchart11/21/2008
Considerations for Hospitals11/21/2008
Staff Administrative Memo11/21/2008

Additional Documents

  
  
Letter to Adoptive Parents and Guardians of Former State Wards10/20/2008
List of Cases Under LB 157, Updated November 22, 200811/22/2008
Safe Haven Ages in the United States, Updated July 22, 20097/22/2009