The task force will release a final draft of the bill May 15th. Guilford Senator William Martin says he plans to introduce the legislation during the short session. Between 1985 and 1997, the state medical examiner's office confirmed that 22 abandoned babies died within a day of their birth. Under the bill, a mother could turn over her infant to a law enforcement officer, hospital, health department, emergency medical technician or any responsible adult. Whoever takes the baby into temporary custody would have to immediately notify the Department of Social Services.
Similar bills are close to passage in several other states.
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