And lastly, Nebraska overhauls its child abandonment law

[gategrrl]

Nebraska changes law on abandonment of children of all ages

Nebraska state lawmakers on Friday overhauled a law that allowed people to abandon their children of any age legally at hospitals, a senator's office confirmed. 

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A new law put the age limit for the so-called safe haven law at 30 days (one month) for a newborn, according to the office of Senator Arnie Stuthman.

The change came in a special session called by Governor Dave Heineman in a 43-5 vote.

The prior safe haven law approved in July was meant to apply to infants but ended up -- because there was no age specified -- allowing parents to abandon many children including teens as old as 17 at area hospitals.

Legislators passed the new bill stating: "no person should be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child 30 days old or younger in the custody of an employee on duty at an hospital licensed by the state of Nebraska," an aide to Stuthman said.

Embarrassed by the magnitude of the problem after 34 children -- mostly anonymous -- were handed over to the state, the governor called earlier this month for the state legislature to revise the law and specify an age limit.

On one day in September, 11 children, aged between one and 17 and some from the same family, were abandoned at a Nebraska hospital.

© 2008 AFP

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34 children dropped off at in Nebraska. That's amazing. I'd heard (though haven't confirmed) that some of those parents/guardians drove in from out of state to let the state of Nebraska deal with their children, instead of going through child services in their own states.

Comments

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Excellent points, some of which I hadn't thought of so far.

Children as punishment! How horrible! I know of the pervasive attitude toward teen parents who go ahead and have the babies they accidentally create and who then "stick their parents" with the grandchild/ren. Truly. Do these parents expect a mid to older teen, who hasn't been encouraged to act as an adult, to behave as if they ARE an adult?

It's hard enough when you know you wanted your kids when they start making you crazy! --And when you're a grown-up with adult responsibilities.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

There is a segment of the anti-abortion crowd that will, eventually, come out with the "they need to learn to deal with the consequences of their actions" talking point if you press them enough. That's coded speech for punishment.

Such a great start those kids get.

As to the grandparents taking the kids, they don't *have* to take them. I can tell you one thing right now. Aside from visits (even if they lasted the whole summer break), when I'm a grandmother, if my kid tries to foist her kids off on me, I might just take them... but she'd have to sign over her parental rights, first. If I'm going to raise a kid, I need to have full parental rights.

I've seen too many kids' lives ruined with the constant in and out and all about switching between homes and caregivers until they don't know what family and stability mean.

Raising kids is hard enough without having to do it under duress.

[superbadgirl]

There is a segment of the anti-abortion crowd that will, eventually, come out with the "they need to learn to deal with the consequences of their actions" talking point if you press them enough. That's coded speech for punishment.

I really fail to see how that would be an effective method, for anyone. It sure as hell isn't the right thing to do for the unwanted child, FCOL. This kind of mentality just makes a problem continue on through generations.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's *not* effective, but trying to explain that to these folks is like trying to explain chaos theory to a brick wall. I was recently accused of being self-hating because I argued that pregnancy, for some women, at some times, is cruel and unusual punishment. I still haven't figured that one out.