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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="5-641" title_number="5" title_name="Limitations, Prohibited Actions, and Immunities" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Immunities and Prohibited Actions -- Health and Public Safety">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Designated facility” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A hospital;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The office of a medical provider licensed by the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A police department or State Police barracks;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A professional or volunteer fire company that is insured; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Any other facility designated by the Secretary of Human Services by regulation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Program” means the Maryland Safe Haven Program described under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person who leaves an unharmed newborn with a responsible adult or at a designated facility within 60 days after the birth of the newborn, as determined within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, and does not express an intent to return for the newborn shall be immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution for the act.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the person leaving a newborn under this subsection is not the mother of the newborn, the person must have the approval of the mother to do so.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person with whom a newborn is left under the circumstances described in subsection (b) of this section as soon as reasonably possible shall take the newborn to a designated facility.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A designated facility that accepts a newborn under this subsection shall notify the local department of social services within 24 hours after accepting the newborn.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A designated facility may receive a newborn in a newborn safety device provided that the device is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Climate controlled;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Physically affixed to an exterior wall or located inside the designated facility;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Located in an area that is conspicuous and visible to the employees of the designated facility;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Clearly marked with appropriate signage; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Equipped with:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>An alert system such that when the newborn safety device is opened, it automatically connects to the 9–1–1 system and transmits a request for immediate dispatch of an emergency medical services provider to the location of the newborn safety device;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A video surveillance system that allows employees of the designated facility to monitor the interior of the newborn safety device 24 hours a day; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>An automated lock that secures the newborn inside the device after deposit.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A responsible adult and a designated facility that accepts a newborn under this section and an employee or agent of the facility shall be immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution for good faith actions taken related to the acceptance of or medical treatment or care of the newborn unless injury to the newborn was caused by gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Subject to existing funding for the Program, the Secretary of Human Services shall develop, implement, and maintain a public information program to inform the public about the Program, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The maintenance of an interactive website that provides pertinent information about the Program, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Authorized designated facilities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Instructions for the method by which the parent of a newborn may surrender the newborn;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The manner in which the parent of a newborn surrendered under the Program may anonymously provide information to a local department of social services regarding the medical history of the newborn or the newborn’s family medical history; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A method:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>By which the parent of a newborn surrendered under the Program may reconsider the surrender; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>That allows the parent to undergo paternity testing for the purposes of reunification with the newborn;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Promotion of educational and informational materials in print, audio, electronic, and other media formats that describe the mission and purpose of the Program and include the Program’s toll–free telephone number;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Regular distribution of Program literature at:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>State and county health department offices;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Each local department of social services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Each publicly funded educational institution in the State;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Creation and distribution of decals and placards listing designated facilities and the toll–free telephone number of the Program; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Training for emergency medical service providers, 9–1–1 operators, hospital staff, firefighters, law enforcement officers, or any other employee of a designated facility on how to implement and follow the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Secretary of Human Services shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>On or before December 31, 2025, and each December 31 thereafter, the Secretary of Human Services shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, provide a report to the General Assembly on Program metrics, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The number of newborns surrendered in the prior year;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The disposition of the custody of each newborn surrendered through the Program in the prior year; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The cost of maintaining equipment related to and used by the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
