Bill Text: NJ AJR183 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates September of each year as "Safe Haven Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-24 - Substituted by SJR92 [AJR183 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR183-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates September of each year as "Safe Haven Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating September of each year as "Safe Haven Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Safe Haven laws have been enacted in several states across the nation in order to prevent unsafe infant abandonments and fatalities as reported in several high profile cases that generated nationwide media attention; and
Whereas, New Jersey was one of the first five states to enact a Safe Haven law for infants who are unable to be cared for, with the enactment of the "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act" (Safe Haven law) in 2000; and
Whereas, The Safe Haven law allows a distressed parent or someone on his or her behalf to safely, legally, and anonymously surrender an unharmed infant to a staff member at one of New Jersey's legally designated Safe Haven sites within 30 days of the child's birth; and
Whereas, Legally designated sites in New Jersey include hospital emergency rooms, police and fire stations, and ambulance and first aid squads; and
Whereas, Under the Safe Haven law, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) ensures that an infant is placed in a foster or pre-adoptive loving home; and
Whereas, The DCF is the State department tasked with promoting the Safe Haven law in New Jersey in partnership with public and private agencies, the Legislature, schools, community organizations, and community leaders; and
Whereas, The DCF promotes the Safe Haven law through annual public awareness campaigns, conferences, workshops, community events, and the distribution of educational materials; and
Whereas, New Jersey schools will begin teaching high school students about the Safe Haven law in the upcoming school year; and
Whereas, Since the enactment of New Jersey's Safe Haven law in 2000, the law has successfully saved the lives of 77 infants in this State; and
Whereas, On the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Safe Haven law, it is altogether fitting, proper, and in the public interest for New Jersey to designate September as "Safe Haven Awareness Month" in order to strengthen the State's efforts in raising awareness and saving infant lives; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. September of each year is designated as "Safe Haven Awareness Month."
2. The Governor may annually issue a proclamation recognizing September as "Safe Haven Awareness Month" and call upon public officials and the residents of the State of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates September of each year as "Safe Haven Awareness Month" in New Jersey.
Safe Haven laws have been enacted in several states across the nation in order to prevent unsafe infant abandonments and fatalities as reported in several high profile cases that generated nationwide media attention.
New Jersey was one of the first five states to enact a Safe Haven law for infants for infants who are unable to be cared for, with the enactment of the "New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act" (Safe Haven law) in 2000. The Safe Haven law allows a distressed parent or someone on his or her behalf to safely, legally, and anonymously surrender an unharmed infant to a staff member at one of New Jersey's legally designated Safe Haven sites within 30 days of the child's birth. Legally designated sites in New Jersey include hospital emergency rooms, police and fire stations, and ambulance and first aid squads.
Under the Safe Haven law, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) ensures that an infant is placed in a foster or pre-adoptive loving home. The DCF is the State department tasked with promoting the Safe Haven law in New Jersey in partnership with public and private agencies, the Legislature, schools, community organizations, and community leaders. The DCF promotes the Safe Haven law through annual public awareness campaigns, conferences, workshops, community events, and the distribution of educational materials. New Jersey schools will begin teaching high school students about the Safe Haven law in the upcoming school year.
Since the enactment of New Jersey's Safe Haven law in 2000, the law has successfully saved the lives of 77 infants in this State.
