Chapter 24, Article 22 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the “Safe Haven for Infants Act”. History: Laws 2001, ch. 31, § 1; 2001, ch. 132, § 1; 2005, ch. 26, § 1. ANNOTATIONS The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, changed the section references of the original enactment to a compiled chapter and article […]
The purpose of the Safe Haven for Infants Act is to promote the safety of infants and to immunize a parent from criminal prosecution for leaving an infant, ninety days of age or less, at a safe haven site. This act is not intended to abridge the rights or obligations created by the federal Indian […]
As used in the Safe Haven for Infants Act: A. “fire station” means a fire station that is certified by the state fire marshal’s office; B. “hospital” means an acute care general hospital or health care clinic licensed by the state; C. “Indian child” means an Indian child as defined by the federal Indian Child […]
A. A person may leave an infant with the staff of a safe haven site without being subject to criminal prosecution for abandonment or abuse if the infant was born within ninety days of being left at the safe haven site, as determined within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, and if the infant is […]
A. A safe haven site shall accept an infant who is left at the safe haven site in accordance with the provisions of the Safe Haven for Infants Act. B. In conjunction with the children, youth and families department, a safe haven site shall develop procedures for appropriate staff to accept and provide necessary medical […]
A. The children, youth and families department shall be deemed to have emergency custody of an infant who has been left at a safe haven site according to the provisions of the Safe Haven for Infants Act. B. Upon receiving a report of an infant left at a safe haven site pursuant to the provisions […]
History: Laws 2001, ch. 31, § 6 and Laws 2001, ch. 132, § 6; repealed by Laws 2005, ch. 26, § 8. ANNOTATIONS Repeals. — Laws 2005, ch. 26, § 8 repealed 24-22-6 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 2001, ch. 31, § 6 and Laws 2001, ch. 132, § 6, relating to confidentiality, effective […]
A. A person established as a parent of an infant previously left at a safe haven site shall have standing to participate in all proceedings regarding the child pursuant to the provisions of the Abuse and Neglect Act [Chapter 32A, Article 4 NMSA 1978]. B. If a person not previously established as a parent seeks […]
A safe haven site and its staff are immune from criminal liability and civil liability for accepting an infant in compliance with the provisions of the Safe Haven for Infants Act but not for subsequent negligent medical care or treatment of the infant. History: Laws 2001, ch. 31, § 8 and Laws 2001, ch. 132, […]
