Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 13-3623.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE13-3623.01. Safe haven for newborn infants;
definitions
A. A person is not guilty of abuse of a child
pursuant to section 13-3623, subsection B solely for leaving an unharmed
newborn infant with a safe haven provider.
B. A fire
station and a health care institution that is classified by the department of
health services pursuant to section 36-405 as a hospital or an outpatient
treatment center shall post a notice that it accepts a newborn infant pursuant
to this section at all entrances. The notice shall be placed on the exterior
of the building in a location that is noticeable to the public. The notice
shall be printed in bold faced capital letters that are not less than two
inches in height. The notice may include an identifying logo. A fire station,
hospital or outpatient treatment center that does not post a notice as
prescribed by this subsection is not subject to civil liability.
B. C. If a parent or
agent of a parent voluntarily delivers the parent's newborn infant to a safe
haven provider, the safe haven provider shall take custody of the newborn
infant if both of the following are true:
1. The parent did not express an intent to return
for the newborn infant.
2. The safe haven provider reasonably believes that
the child is a newborn infant.
C. D. The safe haven
provider shall report the receipt of a newborn infant to child protective
services of the department of economic security as soon as practicable after
taking custody of the newborn infant. Child protective services shall report
the number of newborn infants delivered to safe haven providers pursuant to
section 8-526.
D. E. A parent or agent
of a parent who leaves a newborn infant with a safe haven provider may remain
anonymous, and the safe haven provider shall not require the parent or agent to
answer any questions. A safe haven provider shall offer written information
about information and referral organizations.
E. F. A safe haven
provider who receives a newborn infant pursuant to this section is not liable
for any civil or other damages for any act or omission by the safe haven
provider in maintaining custody of the newborn infant if the safe haven
provider acts in good faith without gross negligence.
F. G. This section does
not preclude the prosecution of the person for any offense based on any act not
covered by this section.
G. H. For the purposes
of this section:
1. "Newborn infant" means an infant who is
seventy-two hours old or younger.
2. "Safe haven
provider" means any of the following:
(a) A firefighter who
is on duty.
(b) An emergency medical technician who is on duty.
(c) A staff member at a health care institution that
is classified by the department of health services pursuant to section 36-405
as a hospital or an outpatient treatment center.
(d) A staff member or volunteer at any of the following
that posts a public notice that it is willing to accept a newborn infant
pursuant to this section:
(i) A private child welfare agency licensed pursuant
to title 8, chapter 5, article 1.
(ii) An adoption agency licensed pursuant to section
8-126.
(iii) A church. For the purposes of this item,
"church" means a building that is erected or converted for use as a
church, where services are regularly convened, that is used primarily for
religious worship and schooling and that a reasonable person would conclude is
a church by reason of design, signs or architectural or other features. END_STATUTE