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Special Session
The 100th Legislature, First Special Session convened at 3:00 pm on Friday, November 14, 2008. 2 bills were introduced to the safe haven law:
LB1 - Change Provisions relating to prohibitions on prosecution for leaving a child at a hospital
LB3 - Adopt the Nebraska Infant Safe Haven Act and the Nebraska Child Safe Haven Act
These bills were referred to the Judiciary Committee and a hearing was held Monday, November 17, 2008 at 1:30 pm. The Judiciary Committe advanced LB 1 to the floor with an amendment to change the age limit to 30 days.
Kathy Moore, Executive Director of Voices for Children, provided testimony at the hearing on Monday and issued a memo to all senators as the bill advanced to the floor.
View testimony before the Judiciary Committee
View Memo to all Senators
Voices for Children's position
Voices for Children believes that the Safe Haven Law needs to be revised. This revision must take into account the safety and care for newborn children, as is the original intent of Safe Haven Laws across the country; provide for the treatment for children needing behavioral heath care services; and support for parents struggling to care for children with special challenges.
View memo to Senators 10/21/2008
About LB 157
LB 157 was introduced on January 8, 2007 by Senator Stuthman. Bill as introduced
Voices for Children in Nebraska offered neutral testimony at the initial hearing of LB 6 and LB 157 before the Judiciary Committee on January 17, 2007. View initial testimony
As LB 157 made its way through the legislative process, the bill was amended several times, but failed to address the best interests of children. Voices for Children was unable to remain neutral on the bill. View comments
During ths 2008 Legislative Session, LB 157 was again amended. Eventually, a compromise among senators was reached and the final law was passed and sent to the governor for his approval. LB 157 was signed into law on February 13, 2008. View final bill
Since LB 157 went into effect, dozens of children, many of them teens and pre-teens, have been abandoned under the law.
RECENT MEDIA
Select highlights of news coverage of the safe haven law.
Archive
November
11/1/2008 - Safe haven law raises new issue for lawmakers - Omaha World Herald
11/2/2008 - Two judges weigh in on safe haven law - Omaha World Herald
11/2/2008 - Former safe haven teen is now a runaway in Texas - Omaha World Herald
11/3/2008 - New Details Released in Latest Safe Haven Cases - KETV
11/3/2008 - Another Child Abandoned at Neb. Hospital Monday - WOWT Omaha
11/4/2008 - 2 more teens abandoned under Neb. safe haven - AP
11/4/2008 - Safe haven cases may be up to 29 - Omaha World Herald
11/4/2008 - Nebraska's Abandoned Families - NY Times
11/4/2008 - Details emerge in new safe have case - KETV Omaha
11/6/2008 - Teens will remain in foster care - Omaha World Herald
11/6/2008 - Another child left at an Omaha hospital - Omaha World Herald
11/6/2008 - Indiana Boy Latest Safe Haven Case - Associated Press
11/8/2008 - A Mother's Story of Trying to Get Help- NTV
11/9/2008 - Haven law far from quick fix for kids, families - Omaha World Herald
11/9/2008 - The Children: Kids suffer sense of abandonment - Omaha World Herald
11/9/2008 - The Parents: Myths aside, caretakers still involved - Omaha World Herlad
11/9/2008 - The System: Law flawed, but shines needed light - Omaha World Herald
11/10/2008 - Two more teenagers dropped off - Omaha World Herald
11/11/2008 - Judge sympathetic to safe have teen - Omaha World Herald
11/11/2008 - Health Care Cited in Safe Haven Case - Omaha World Herlad
11/12/2008 - 11-year-old boy is 31st Nebraksa 'safe haven' case - Associated Press
11/12/2008 - Nebraska's Abandoned Kid Law - Time
11/12/2008 - Nebraska's Law Leaves Children in Limbo - Wall Street Journal
11/12/2008 - Dubas seeking 'two-tiered' safe haven law - Grand Island Independent
11/12/2008 - Safe Haven runaway found, police say - Omaha World Herald
11/12/2008 - Parents of teens watch safe haven law - Associated Press
11/13/2008 -Experts disagree about what 'safe-haven' problem reflects - Grand Island Independent
11/13/2008 -Neb. parents rush to leave kids before law changes - Associated Press
11/14/2008 - As number of children hits 35, safe haven law set to change - Omaha World Herald
11/14/2008 - More than age limits needed, experts say - Omaha World Herald
11/14/2008 - Hansen: 3 days not enough - North Platte Telegraph
11/15/2008 - Neb. lawmakers focus on fixing safe haven law - NBC
11/17/2008 - Safe Haven hearing - 30 day limit advanced - KOLN/KGIN
11/17/2008 - Several age limitsfor Neb. safe haven in play - Associated Press
11/18/2008 - Safe haven debate under way - Columbus Telegram
11/18/2008 - Lawmakers advance safe haven to next level - KETV
11/18/2008 - Lawmakers give first round approval to safe haven fix - KPTM
11/18/2008 - Lawmakers vote in first round for Safe Haven revision - KHAS
11/18/2008 - Debate continues over safe haven changes - NTV
11/18/2008 - Beyond Nebraska and Infant Safe Haven laws - via ChicagoTribune.com
11/18/2008 - Parents say troubled children need state help - North Platte Telegraph
11/18/2008 - Neb. sentators told safe-haven law exposes problem - Associated Press
11/18/2008 - Acitvists look beyond safe haven - KOLN/KGIN
11/18/2008 - Defending Nebraska's safe haven law - Time
11/18/2008 - Neb. lawmakers debating safe haven age limit - Associated Press
11/18/2008 - The Abandoned Children of Nebraska - Time
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