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--- version:SB 9+++ version:(document, no version)@@ -1,293 +1,36 @@- The Alaska State Legislature+Senator Robert Myers+State Capitol Room 7+Juneau, AK 99801- menu+Representative Frank Tomaszewki+State Capitol Room 405+Juneau, AK 99801- Home+February 4, 2025- Senate-- Current Members-- Past Members-- By Session-- Alphabetical-- House-- Current Members-- Past Members-- By Session-- Alphabetical-- Bills & Laws-- Bills-- All Introduced-- Actions by Date-- Awaiting Actions-- Bills sent to Conf Committee-- Bills in Committee-- Governor's Vetoes-- Passed Legislation-- Prefile Bill Summary-- Requestor Summary-- Statistics-- Sponsor Summary-- Subject Summary-- Laws-- Constitution-- Constitutional Convention Files-- Statutes-- Executive Orders - Current-- Executive Orders - Historical-- Administrative Code-- Journals-- Session Laws & Resolves-- Session Laws & Resolves 2025-- Session Laws & Resolves 2026-- 1981 - Previous Year Session Law-- 1983 - Previous Year Legislative Resolves-- Tools-- Statute Information Retrieval System-- Bill Tracking Management Facility-- Past Legislatures (Archives)-- Committees-- Hearing Schedule-- Standing Committees-- Finance Committees-- Special Committees-- Joint Committees-- Conference Committees-- Other Committees-- Minutes-- Publications-- Get Started-- Information Offices-- Legislative Affairs-- Legislative Agencies-- Links-- Legislative Branch-- Executive Branch-- Judicial Branch-- Alaska Delegation--Home--Bill & Laws--Bills--SB 9 Detail--FullText-- txt--SB 9: "An Act relating to the surrender of infants; and providing for an effective date."--00 SENATE BILL NO. 9-01 "An Act relating to the surrender of infants; and providing for an effective date."-02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:-03 * Section 1. AS 47.10.013(c) is amended to read:-04 (c) A parent who is immune from prosecution under AS 11.81.500 and-05 chooses to surrender an infant shall surrender the infant in the manner described in this-06 subsection. Surrendering the infant in the manner described in this subsection-07 constitutes abandonment for purposes of this chapter. An infant's parent is considered-08 to have abandoned the infant safely, and, notwithstanding AS 25.20.030 and-09 AS 47.10.120, the parent's legal duty to support the infant is extinguished if-10 (1) the parent, without expressing an intent to return for the infant,-11 leaves the infant-12 (A) in the physical custody of a person who-13 (i) [IS A (A) PERSON] the parent reasonably believes-14 would provide for the health and safety of the infant and who would act-15 appropriately to care for the infant;--01 (ii) is a [(B)] peace officer, community health aide,-02 physician, or hospital employee; or-03 (iii) [(C) PERSON WHO] is employed by or is a-04 volunteer for a fire department or emergency medical service, if the-05 person is acting within the scope of the person's fire department or-06 emergency medical service duties; or-07 (B) in an infant safety device that-08 (i) is physically affixed to an exterior wall or located-09 inside of a hospital, emergency department, freestanding birth-10 center as defined in AS 47.32.900, office of a private physician-11 whether in individual or group practice, rural health clinic as-12 defined in AS 47.32.900, municipal police department, state trooper-13 post, fire department, or other facility designated by the-14 commissioner as an appropriate location for an infant safety device-15 under regulations adopted by the commissioner; and-16 (ii) meets the requirements of (h) of this section; and-17 (2) there is no evidence the infant has been physically injured before-18 abandonment.-19 * Sec. 2. AS 47.10.013(d) is amended to read:-20 (d) A person to whom an infant is surrendered in the manner described in-21 (c)(1)(A)(ii) or (iii) [(c)(1)(B) OR (C)] of this section shall-22 (1) act appropriately to care for the infant;-23 (2) inform the parent that the parent may, but is not required to, answer-24 any questions regarding the name, identity, and medical history of the infant and-25 parents of the infant unless the parent chooses to contact the department under (3) of-26 this subsection;-27 (3) ask the parent if the parent wishes to relinquish the parent's-28 parental rights and release the infant for adoption; if the answer is affirmative, the-29 person shall contact the department so that the parent can discuss that option with the-30 department;-31 (4) immediately notify the nearest office of the department that the--01 infant has been surrendered in the manner described in (c)(1)(A)(ii) or (iii) [(c)] of this-02 section.-03 * Sec. 3. AS 47.10.013(e) is amended to read:-04 (e) An individual, agency, designated facility, or entity that receives an infant-05 abandoned safely under (c) of this section is not liable for civil damages for failure to-06 discharge the duties listed in (d) of this section.-07 * Sec. 4. AS 47.10.013 is amended by adding new subsections to read:-08 (g) A designated facility that receives an infant surrendered under (c)(1)(B) of-09 this section shall immediately notify the nearest office of the department that the infant-10 has been surrendered under (c)(1)(B) of this section.-11 (h) An infant safety device must be-12 (1) located in an area that is conspicuous and visible to employees of a-13 designated facility;-14 (2) climate-controlled;-15 (3) clearly marked with appropriate signage, as determined by the-16 department; and-17 (4) equipped with-18 (A) a system that automatically transmits a request to the 911-19 emergency system for the immediate dispatch of an emergency medical-20 services provider to the location of the infant safety device when the infant-21 safety device is opened;-22 (B) a video surveillance system that allows employees of the-23 designated facility to monitor the interior of the infant safety device 24 hours a-24 day; and-25 (C) an automated lock that secures the infant inside the infant-26 safety device after deposit.-27 (i) The department may provide training to emergency medical service-28 providers, 911 operators, hospital staff, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and-29 employees of a designated facility in how to implement and comply with the-30 requirements for the surrender of an infant as described in this section.-31 (j) In this section, "designated facility" means a facility described in--01 (c)(1)(B)(i) of this section that has an infant safety device located at the facility.-02 * Sec. 5. 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You will receive an enrollment confirmation and instructions on how to stop receiving the alerts.--WHO REPRESENTS ME??--FIND--Quick Links--Infobases--Districts--FAQ--Legislative Information Offices--Legislative Affairs Agency--Public Opinion Messages--Legislative Links--Finance--Audit--Ombudsman--100 Years Centennial--Office of Victims' Rights--Statutory Reporting--Ethics--LB&A--senate--Majority--Minority--house--Majority--Minority-- Disclaimer / Credits- Webmaster- Accessibility- Mobile Apps-- Copyright © 2026 Alaska Legislature, All Rights Reserved.--Disclaimer / Credits--Webmaster--Accessibility+Dear Senator Myers and Representative Tomaszewski,+I am writing you as a constituent, South Anchorage community member, Anchorage Fire+Department Telecommunicator and public servant, to lend my support for SB9 and HB64 to expand+the Safe Haven Law to allow for safe surrender in an infant safety device. As a nearly 18-year 911+dispatcher, I have personally experienced the trauma of answering a call for an abandoned infant+found deceased in an Eagle River Park. I don’t wish that trauma on any other First Responders,+unsuspecting bystander that finds the infant, or parent who felt like they had no other choice.+Although our current Safe Haven Law allows for safe surrender and confidentiality, it does not fulfill+the need for anonymity. The most recent abandoned infant, found November 1, 2024, was located+only 1 block from a fire station in downtown Anchorage. On January 1, 2022, an infant was found in+a cardboard box in negative 12-degree temperatures in Fairbanks. In September 1986 an infant was+abandoned in a cardboard box outside a thrift shop on Muldoon Road in Anchorage.+Allowing infant safety devices would provide a safe and anonymous surrender option. Infant safety+devices are voluntary and do not require funding by the local, state or federal government. Funding+is often generated through individual donors and/or charitable organizations who support infant+safety devices in the community. The devices are secure, monitored and have a temperature-+controlled environment.+As of writing this letter, 19 states allow for safe surrender in an infant safety device and 12 other+states are currently reviewing the legislation considering the update. As a lifelong Alaskan, I would+be incredibly proud to add Alaska to the list of states that allow for safe surrender in an infant safety+device.+I wholeheartedly support SB9 and HB64 and am willing to provide testimony if you find that+beneficial. Thank you for sponsoring these bills.+Respectfully,+Frances Robinson+907-360-2535
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