Missouri is on the verge of adding more drop-off incubators for parents to anonymously give up their newborns.
The state legislature has passed a bill that would create a state matching fund to put more of these temperature-controlled cradles at designated drop-off sites, such as Missouri fire stations. Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis County, is the bill sponsor.
“It is a pro-life, pro-woman, pro-child bill,” Murphy said during final bill passage Wednesday night.
According to Murphy, the state has about 10 baby safe haven incubators installed, with more coming on board soon. They have a bassinet inside and immediately notify emergency responders when a baby has been placed in it.
Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis (Photo by Tim Bommel, House Communications)
Murphy has led the charge on Missouri’s effort to have baby safe haven drop-off sites. He successfully passed a bill three years ago to allow the incubators to be placed at the state’s hospitals and fire stations.
“It is a life-saving program,” Murphy said. “I’m really happy to say that it’s going to expand rapidly now that we’re putting some funding into it, and we’re going to give women in need, probably at the worst part of their life, making just a horrific decision, to give their child a better life than they can give it.”
Under his proposal, the state would kick in up to $10,000 for each safe haven incubator installed. The so-called “baby boxes” cost about $20,000 to buy and install them. The funding is subject to legislative approval.
Current Missouri law allows parents to give up their newborns, up to 45 days of age, at a designated drop-off location without the fear of prosecution. Under Murphy’s proposal, it would change the surrendered baby age limit to 90 days.
Another component of his bill would extend a tax credit through 2031 for those who donate diapers to a diaper bank. The proposal would also create a fund to help pay for adoption expenses, post-adoption needs, promoting adoption, and intervention measures to keep children out of foster care.
House Bill 121 heads to the governor for a decision.
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