SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 184

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

213th LEGISLATURE

ADOPTED JANUARY 24, 2008

Sponsored by:

Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris)

Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY

District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)

Assemblyman  UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Oroho and Assemblyman Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DCF to provide Safe Haven information to county and municipal agencies, social service agencies, physicians, pregnancy crisis centers, adoption agencies and colleges and universities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Substitute as adopted by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

An Act concerning public information about the “New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act” and amending P.L.2000, c.58 (C.30:4C-15.9).

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    Section 6 of P.L.2000, c.58 (C.30:4C-15.9) is amended to read as follows:

     6.    a. The Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, shall establish an educational and public information program to promote safe placement alternatives for newborn infants, the confidentiality offered to birth parents and information regarding adoption procedures.  This campaign shall include the establishment of a 24-hour, toll free hotline to assist in making information about the safe haven procedures established by P.L.2000, c.58 (C.30:4C-15.5 et al.) as widely available as possible.

     b.    The Department of Children and Families shall provide to licensed general hospitals in this State and State, county or municipal police stations information about relevant social service agencies which may be made available to any person voluntarily delivering a child as provided in section 4 of P.L.2000, c.58 (C.30:4C-15.7).

c.     The Department of Children and Families shall notify relevant county and municipal government agencies, agencies that deliver social services administered by the Departments of Children and Families, Human Services, and Health and Senior Services, physicians, pregnancy crisis centers, adoption agencies, and colleges and universities about the availability of information concerning the “New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act,” including the pamphlets, posters, and other materials available on the department’s Internet site.

(cf: P.L.2006, c.47, s.125)

2.    This act shall take effect on the 60^th day after enactment.