Senate Bill 535 Summary

• Establishes a safe surrender law allowing parents to voluntarily surrender infants under seven days old to health care providers, first responders, or social services workers without court order or criminal liability.

• Department of social services obtains temporary custody of surrendered infants and must publish notice in newspapers within 14 days; surrendering parent's identity remains confidential except for law enforcement, medical providers, and court orders.

• Non-surrendering parent can claim custody if identity is known and confirmed through marriage legitimation or genetic testing showing 97% or higher probability of parentage, provided no abuse or neglect concerns exist.

• If neither parent seeks custody or executes adoption relinquishment within 60 days of surrender, department initiates termination of parental rights proceedings; surrendering parent immune from civil or criminal prosecution for safe surrender if acting in good faith.

• Requires schools in grades 9-12 to provide students annual information about lawful newborn abandonment procedures in accordance with the safe surrender law.