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| Nebraska discusses safe haven law | Nebraska discusses safe haven law |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The age limit for abandoning children in the US state of Nebraska could be cut from 18 years to three days, if politicians vote on the change. | The age limit for abandoning children in the US state of Nebraska could be cut from 18 years to three days, if politicians vote on the change. |
| Under a safe haven law passed in July, a person will not be prosecuted for leaving a child at a hospital. | Under a safe haven law passed in July, a person will not be prosecuted for leaving a child at a hospital. |
| Since then 34 children have been legally abandoned - but 20 of them are teenagers, prompting a rethink on the law's wording. | Since then 34 children have been legally abandoned - but 20 of them are teenagers, prompting a rethink on the law's wording. |
| Nebraska was one of the last US states to introduce a safe-haven law. | Nebraska was one of the last US states to introduce a safe-haven law. |
| All other states limit abandonment to infants. Only the District of Columbia is without a law. | All other states limit abandonment to infants. Only the District of Columbia is without a law. |
| The Nebraska law was intended to prevent vulnerable parents abandoning newborn babies in potentially dangerous situations. | The Nebraska law was intended to prevent vulnerable parents abandoning newborn babies in potentially dangerous situations. |
| 'Best intentions' | 'Best intentions' |
| However, legislators could not agree on a specific age limit, choosing "child" instead, which applies to anyone aged 17 or under. | However, legislators could not agree on a specific age limit, choosing "child" instead, which applies to anyone aged 17 or under. |
| No person shall be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child in the custody of an employee on duty at a hospital licensed by the State of Nebraska Text of law Safe haven or last resort? | |
| Nebraska state legislature speaker Mike Flood said: "Nebraska's safe haven law was done with the best of intentions." | Nebraska state legislature speaker Mike Flood said: "Nebraska's safe haven law was done with the best of intentions." |
| But with teenagers making up the largest number of abandoned children, the governor of the state announced a special session of the state legislature to address the issue. | But with teenagers making up the largest number of abandoned children, the governor of the state announced a special session of the state legislature to address the issue. |
| That announcement in turn led to an increase in abandonments. | That announcement in turn led to an increase in abandonments. |
| Among the abandoned teenagers, six were aged 17, two were 16 years old, six were 15, three were 14-year-olds and three were aged 13. | Among the abandoned teenagers, six were aged 17, two were 16 years old, six were 15, three were 14-year-olds and three were aged 13. |
| Another eight children aged 11 or 12 were abandoned. | Another eight children aged 11 or 12 were abandoned. |
| The director of the Nebraska Children's Home Society, Karen Authier, told AP: "I think there was a fair amount of denial on the part of legislators that it would snowball." | The director of the Nebraska Children's Home Society, Karen Authier, told AP: "I think there was a fair amount of denial on the part of legislators that it would snowball." |
| Mr Flood said once a vote had been taken, the underlining issue of helping abandoned teenagers would need to be addressed. | Mr Flood said once a vote had been taken, the underlining issue of helping abandoned teenagers would need to be addressed. |
| Parental rights | Parental rights |
| The law currently states: "No person shall be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child in the custody of an employee on duty at a hospital licensed by the State of Nebraska. | The law currently states: "No person shall be prosecuted for any crime based solely upon the act of leaving a child in the custody of an employee on duty at a hospital licensed by the State of Nebraska. |
| "The hospital shall promptly contact appropriate authorities to take custody of the child." | "The hospital shall promptly contact appropriate authorities to take custody of the child." |
| The director of child and family services for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Todd Landry, told Time magazine that the parent is still involved. | The director of child and family services for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Todd Landry, told Time magazine that the parent is still involved. |
| "They may be ordered to provide services, ordered to participate in family therapy, and they may be ordered to pay child support. | "They may be ordered to provide services, ordered to participate in family therapy, and they may be ordered to pay child support. |
| "Parental rights are not terminated or ended when they leave the child at the hospital," he said. | "Parental rights are not terminated or ended when they leave the child at the hospital," he said. |