There are lots of unnecessary bills which deserve to be vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, but AB 1873 is one that should be on the top of his aides’ list of recommended vetos. AB 1873 would expand the state program which allows mothers to safely surrender their newborn infants within three days of giving birth. The proposed law would require all fire stations to be safe havens and, more troubling, giving mothers up to 30 days to abandon their child without any questions being asked. (The SF Chronicle carried a story today on the proposed bill and it’s author, Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont.) Under existing law, mothers can drop an infant off at a safe haven spot designated by their county (usually an emergency room or fire station) without having to identify herself. After three days, there is still a legal way for a baby to be given to the state, but a mother cannot remain annoymous.
Los Angeles County and CSAC are among the groups opposing the bill. And for good reason. Both organizations argue that giving parents 30 days to decide to give up their baby allows too much time for potential signs of abuse to fade before an infant is handed over.
The governor already signed a bill making the state’s temporary safe haven law permanent last year. This bill needs to be vetoed. Most computer stores don’t allow consumers more than 15 days to return a computer after purchase. Do mothers really need 30 days (on top of the nine months of pregnancy!) to decide whether or not they can or want to take care of their child? The point of safe haven laws is to prevent babies from being dumped in trash cans hours after their birth. Statistics show that the majority of surrendered babies in California are dropped off hours after birth; out of 64 surrenders between 2002 and 2004, only nine babies were more than 1 day old.
The bill was approved by both houses but has to be passed by the Assembly again because of some technical changes. Gov. Schwarzenegger should listen to LA County and CSAC and veto this bill.