FLORIDA – A bill that will give parents more time to surrender unharmed newborns to hospitals, fire stations, and EMS services is waiting to be signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
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It would increase the time a parent has to drop the baby to staff members from seven days to 30 days after birth.
It would also give 911 dispatchers the ability to arrange drop-off locations if the baby’s parents don’t have transportation.
Democratic state Rep. Robin Bartleman spoke to media like Politico and said the bill will create an alternative for women now forced to go through with unwanted pregnancies.
Bartleman made that comment after Florida’s six-week abortion ban went into play.
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Nick Silverio, the founder of A Safe Haven for Newborns in Florida, said he’s not sure if the bill expansion would help women in terms of the six-week abortion ban, but said it would be helpful in general.
“We think it gives the mother an affirmative decision. A life-changing affirmative decision,” Silverio said.
He said he hopes the governor signs the bill soon and gets the expansion going. DeSantis has until June 30 to do so.