On an 18-2 vote, the Alaska State Senate passed Senate Bill 9 on March 31, which establishes dedicated locations to install and maintain infant safety devices, also known as “baby boxes,” to provide an additional option for struggling parents who want to safely surrender infants in times of crisis.
The only Senators to vote against the bill were Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Loki Tobin (D-Anchorage).
In less than 15 years, Alaska has seen two deaths from abandoned babies.
“No child should die because a parent is afraid,” said bill sponsor Senator Robb Myers (R – North Pole).
The safety devices allow parents to anonymously relinquish an infant. The boxes then hold the baby in a climate-controlled environment with an automatic lock and constant video surveillance while immediately alerting emergency services. Devices may be located in fire stations, hospitals, birth centers, municipal police departments, rural health clinics, state trooper posts, or other emergency facilities.
The bill would allow Alaska to join 22 other states in authorizing the use of baby boxes as an expansion of an already existing safe surrender law.
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Current Alaska law requires parents to surrender a newborn (21 days old or younger) to another individual – in-person – which can be a barrier for those who cannot bring themselves to relinquish their baby in this manner.
The Senate Republican Caucus issued a statement noting that it is “proud to protect babies and provide a safeguard for struggling families facing potential shame, fear, and recognition during a time of crisis. All lives are precious, and SB 9 ensures children are protected while being surrendered with dignity and care.”
Sen. Myers expressed hope that the Alaska House would follow the Senate’s lead and approve the legislation.
“I’m happy to get this bill through the Senate, and I am hopeful that the House will take swift action to help us save lives,” he said.
8 Comments
Maybe you want to read this and then present both sides of why many are against putting babies is boxes? https://mirrorindy.org/indiana-safe-haven-baby-boxes-monica-kelsey-infant-abandonment/
Riiiight…we need to “regulate” the baby boxes. We can’t just let people save babies’ lives! Just consider the millions of dollars in revenue we’ll miss out on if we can’t cut them up and sell their hearts, livers, brains, scalps, fingers and toes to university research laboratories across the U.S. Surrendering your child alive is so much more difficult than allowing a stranger to pull him out of you, piece by piece, and then sell those pieces for a profit. Silly me. I thought Safe Haven Baby Boxes were a good thing. I’m so glad federal agencies -who always have our best interests at heart- have set me straight.
Why must our Good Samaritan works must be funded by the taxpayer instead of neighbors voluntarily giving monetary donations and labor toward maintenance. It’s not a good work but becomes a burdensome obligation
Alaskans are government dependent
This bill only legalizes the boxes. It doesn’t pay for them.
Boxes vs garbage cans. How is it any different?
It states the boxes on safe locations are controlled equipped with regulated heat & oxygen, are monitored 24/7 , locked until a public health care individual, notified of babies arrival, retrieved the baby.
MUCH better for baby than garbage can.
It states the boxes on safe locations are controlled equipped with regulated heat & oxygen, are monitored 24/7 , locked until a public health care individual, notified of babies arrival, retrieved the baby.
MUCH better for baby than garbage cans.
Well that’s a relief! One step up from a garbage can! Animals do better than this!