North Carolina HB 139: Adopt Uniform Deployed Parent Cust/Visit. Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 139
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/15/25

Short Title: Baby Boxes/Newborn Safety Device. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
February 18, 2025
*H139-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ALLOW NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICE INSTALLATION IN QUALIFIED 2
ESTABLISHMENTS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 7B-101 reads as rewritten: 5
"§ 7B-101. Definitions. 6
As used in this Subchapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words 7
have the listed meanings: 8
... 9
(19a) Safely surrendered infant. – An infant reasonably believed to be not more than 10
30 days of age and without signs of abuse or neglect who is voluntarily 11
delivered to an individual or placed in a newborn safety device in accordance 12
with Article 5A of this Subchapter by the infant's parent who does not express 13
an intent to return for the infant. In determining whether there are signs of 14
neglect, the act of surrendering the infant, in and of itself, does not constitute 15
neglect. 16
...." 17
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 7B-521 reads as rewritten: 18
"§ 7B-521. Persons to whom infant may be surrendered. 19
(a) The following individuals shall, without a court order, take into temporary custody 20
an infant reasonably believed to be not more than 30 days of age that is voluntarily delivered to 21
the individual by the infant's parent who does not express an intent to return for the infant: 22
(1) A health care provider, as defined under G.S. 90-21.11, who is on duty or at a 23
hospital or at a local or district health department or at a nonprofit community 24
health center. 25
(2) A first responder who is on duty, including a law enforcement officer, a 26
certified emergency medical services worker, or a firefighter. 27
(3) A social services worker who is on duty or at a local department of social 28
services. 29
(b) An employee of a qualified establishment with an installed newborn safety device as 30
provided for in G.S. 7B-521A shall, without a court order, take into temporary custody an infant 31
reasonably believed to be not more than 30 days of age that is voluntarily placed in a newborn 32
safety device by the infant's parent who does not express an intent to return for the infant." 33
SECTION 1.(c) Article 5A of Subchapter I of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes is 34
amended by adding a new section to read: 35
"§ 7B-521A. Newborn safety device. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 139-Second Edition
(a) A qualified establishment may install a newborn safety device that complies with this 1
Article. Each newborn safety device shall have a temperature-controlled interior, shall be 2
properly ventilated to ensure the safety of infants, shall be equipped with an exterior door that 3
locks automatically upon placement of a newborn in the safety device, shall have a door to access 4
the newborn safety device from the interior of the qualified establishment that allows for the safe 5
retrieval of the newborn, and shall be physically attached to the exterior of the qualified 6
establishment in an area that is conspicuous and visible to employees. A qualified establishment 7
shall comply with all of the following criteria: 8
(1) Cover the cost of the installation through departmental funding or from private 9
donations. 10
(2) Install an adequate dual alarm system connected to the physical location of 11
the newborn safety device. When the newborn safety device is accessed from 12
the exterior, the dual alarm system must sound and automatically call the 911 13
system provider for the county in which the newborn safety device is located. 14
(3) Test the dual alarm system weekly to ensure the device is in proper working 15
order. 16
(4) Visually inspect the newborn safety device at least two times per day. 17
(5) In addition to the requirements of G.S. 7B-522, develop an emergency plan 18
for rendering of emergency medical care to an infant and, if required, the 19
immediate transportation of an infant placed into a newborn safety device to 20
the nearest qualified health care facility equipped to accept potential pediatric 21
medical emergencies. 22
(6) In addition to the requirements of G.S. 7B-528, display clear signage that 23
includes each of the following: 24
a. The phone number of any available services that provide support for 25
parents in crisis. 26
b. A list of any available alternatives to using the newborn safety device. 27
c. A statement that reads "Placing a newborn in this safety device 28
constitutes abandonment of parental rights to the newborn and consent 29
for placement of the newborn in foster care, for adoption, or for other 30
permanent placement except as provided by G.S. 7B-527." 31
(b) The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, shall 32
perform an initial inspection of a newborn safety device installed in accordance with this section 33
prior to the