[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2018 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2018

 To authorize States to use funds provided under the program of block 
grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families to support 
                      infant safe haven programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 25, 2001

Ms. Hart (for herself, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania, 
  Mr. Bachus, Mr. English, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. 
 Pitts, Mr. Stearns, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. Hoekstra, Mrs. 
Myrick, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Souder, Ms. Pryce of Ohio, Mr. Weldon of 
Florida, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Lee, Mr. Greenwood, and Mr. Ryun 
  of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize States to use funds provided under the program of block 
grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families to support 
                      infant safe haven programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Havens Support Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. TANF FUNDS AUTHORIZED TO BE USED FOR INFANT SAFE HAVEN 
              PROGRAMS.

    Section 404(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to support an infant safe haven program.''.
    (b) Infant Safe Haven Program Defined.--Section 419 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 619) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Infant safe haven program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `infant safe haven 
                program' means any program or activity which--
                            ``(i) provides a way for a parent to safely 
                        relinquish a newborn infant at a safe haven 
                        designated pursuant to a State law, or an 
                        agreement approved by a local prosecutor, 
                        which--
                                    ``(I) prescribes, or under which 
                                are prescribed, procedures for lawfully 
                                relinquishing such an infant; and
                                    ``(II) provides that a parent who 
                                lawfully relinquishes such an infant 
                                shall be immune from prosecution for 
                                child abandonment based on such 
                                conduct, or shall be entitled to raise 
                                such conduct as an affirmative defense 
                                in such a prosecution;
                            ``(ii) provides a designated toll-free 
                        information line for the purpose of directing 
                        individuals to locations that are authorized to 
                        accept newborn infants relinquished pursuant to 
                        such a law or agreement and to provide 
                        information about infant relinquishment laws or 
                        agreements;
                            ``(iii) provides for the education and 
                        training of individuals who are authorized to 
                        accept newborn infants relinquished pursuant to 
                        such a law or agreement, to familiarize the 
                        individuals with the procedures prescribed by 
                        or under the law or agreement for accepting, 
                        and caring for a parent who is relinquishing, 
                        such an infant; or
                            ``(iv) recruits and trains health and 
                        social services personnel to work with 
                        relinquished or abandoned infants, their 
                        families, and prospective adoptive families.
                    ``(B) Support.--The term `support' means, with 
                respect to an infant safe haven program, to develop, 
                carry out, or inform any segment of the public about 
                such a program.
                    ``(C) Related terms.--In subparagraph (A):
                            ``(i) Newborn infant.--The term `newborn 
                        infant' means a child who is not more than 30 
                        days old.
                            ``(ii) Relinquish.--The term `relinquish' 
                        means to surrender physical custody.''.

SEC. 3. STUDY OF INFANTS WHO ARE ABANDONED, RELINQUISHED, OR DECEASED.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
conduct a study to determine--
            (1) an estimate of the annual number of infants who are 
        relinquished, abandoned, or found dead in the United States 
        within 1 year after their birth;
            (2) an estimate of the annual number of such infants who 
        are victims of homicide; and
            (3) characteristics and demographics of parents who have 
        abandoned an infant in the United States within 1 year after 
        its birth.
    (b) Report to the Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually during the next 2 
years, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the 
Congress a written report that describes the findings of the study 
required by subsection (a), and contains such recommendations as the 
Secretary deems appropriate.
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