Senate Bill 2386

AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI SAFE HAVEN LAW; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-15-200, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO STATE THE PURPOSE OF THE ARTICLE; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-15-200.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE TERMS; TO AMEND SECTION 43-15-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER TO ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INFANT FROM THE PERSON RELINQUISHING THE INFANT; TO REQUIRE AN INFANT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY; TO REQUIRE A MEDICAL SCREENING OF THE INFANT; TO AMEND SECTION 43-15-203, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES SHALL HAVE LEGAL CUSTODY AS SOON AS THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES NOTICE OF A RELINQUISHMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ASSUME PHYSICAL CUSTODY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT AFTER ASSUMING LEGAL CUSTODY TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT OF A POTENTIAL MISSING CHILD; TO REQUIRE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHO RECEIVES NOTICE UNDER THIS SECTION TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER THE RELINQUISHED INFANT IS A MISSING CHILD; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-15-204, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR A COURT HEARING WITHIN A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN A COURT ORDER OF CONTINUED CUSTODY OF THE INFANT IN THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO FINAL ENTRY OF AN ORDER DECLARING PARENTAL RIGHTS TERMINATED; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-15-204.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE RELINQUISHMENT OF THE INFANT IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION AND SEND A NEWS RELEASE TO BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA; THE NEWS RELEASE AND PUBLICATION MUST STATE THAT ANY PERSON WISHING TO ASSERT PARENTAL RIGHTS IN REGARD TO THE INFANT MUST DO SO AT THE HEARING DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO FILE A PETITION ALLEGING THAT THE INFANT HAS BEEN RELINQUISHED AND TO SEEK APPROVAL OF A PLAN TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN REGARD TO THE INFANT; TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO HOLD A HEARING WITHIN A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME; TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE COURT APPROVES THE PLAN TO TERMINATE ANY PARENTAL RIGHTS IN REGARD TO THE INFANT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FILE A PETITION TO DO SO; TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO HOLD A HEARING IN REGARD TO THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS WITHIN A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-15-207, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH DEFINED THE TERM "EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER" FOR PURPOSES OF THE ARTICLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Nicole Boyd

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 16 – Jan 31

1. Jan 16Referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Division A
2. Jan 31Died in committee in the Senate