BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 116
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 13, 2005

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                   Judy Chu, Chair

                    SB 116 (Dutton) - As Amended:  March 30, 2005 

          Policy Committee:                              Public  
          SafetyVote:  6-0
                        Judiciary                                 9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill eliminates the January 1, 2006 sunset date for the  
          safely-surrendered baby law, making the law effective  
          indefinitely.  


          (Under current law, a parent or other person with lawful custody  
          of a baby 72 hours old or younger, who surrenders the baby to a  
          county-designated safe surrender site, may not be prosecuted for  
          child abandonment.  Existing law provides a procedure for the  
          safe surrender of the newborn at designated sites, the  
          reclaiming of that child, and the transfer of the surrendered  
          child to the county child protective services agency for the  
          purpose of making the child a dependent of the court.) 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor, potentially state-reimbursable costs for local social  
          services to the extent mothers surrender custody of their  
          children pursuant to current law.
           
           COMMENTS  

           Rationale  . SB 1368 (Brulte, 2000) created the safely-surrendered  
          baby law, which was designed to provide mothers of unwanted  
          newborns a safe alternative to abandonment of the child in trash  
          bins, alleys, or other places where babies would be unprotected.  
          The bill contained a January 1, 2006 sunset.

          As of September 30, 2004, 64 newborns have been reported as  








                                                                  SB 116
                                                                  Page  2

          receiving safe-haven protection   under the provisions of this  
          law. 
           

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081