Committee Advances Measure to Permit Pro-Life “Baby Boxes” at Volunteer Fire Stations in Arkansas

Abortion, Legislation, , , , ,

On Thursday the House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed H.B. 1098 expanding Arkansas’ Safe Haven law that lets women anonymously surrender a newborn.

Arkansas’ Safe Haven Act of 2001 lets a woman surrender her newborn baby to law enforcement, medical personnel, and first responders.

The law gives women with unplanned pregnancies an option besides abortion, and it protects newborns from being abandoned.

Similar laws are on the books in all 50 states.

Act 185 of 2019 by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Rebecca Petty (R – Rogers) improved Arkansas’ Safe Haven law by letting fire stations install Safe Haven Boxes — sometimes called ‘baby boxes’ — where women can anonymously place their newborn. Placing a baby inside the box triggers a silent alarm notifying first responders about the child.

Since then, multiple babies in Arkansas have been saved by these baby boxes.

H.B. 1098 by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) makes it possible for volunteer fire departments to install baby boxes at their stations, provided that the department maintains and monitors the baby box in accordance with state law, and first responders are able to reach the baby in less than four minutes.

The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for a vote.

READ MORE

Measure Would Permit Pro-Life “Baby Boxes” at Volunteer Fire Stations in Arkansas

Abortion, , , ,

On Monday Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) filed H.B. 1098 permitting Safe Haven Baby Boxes at volunteer fire stations in Arkansas.

Arkansas’ Safe Haven Act of 2001 lets a woman surrender her newborn baby to law enforcement, medical personnel, and first responders.

The law gives women with unplanned pregnancies an option besides abortion, and it protects newborns from being abandoned.

Similar laws are on the books in all 50 states.

Act 185 of 2019 by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Rebecca Petty (R – Rogers) improved Arkansas’ Safe Haven law by letting fire stations install Safe Haven Boxes — sometimes called ‘baby boxes’ — where women can anonymously place their newborn. Placing a baby inside the box triggers a silent alarm notifying first responders about the child.

Since then, multiple babies in Arkansas have been saved by these baby boxes.

H.B. 1098 makes it possible for volunteer fire departments to install baby boxes at their stations, provided that the department maintains and monitors the baby box in accordance with state law, and first responders are able to reach the baby in less than four minutes.

Now that abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, it is essential for our state to assist women with unplanned pregnancies. Safe Haven Baby Boxes give women real options besides abortion, and H.B. 1098 will expand the number of potential locations where these baby boxes can operate in Arkansas.

Read H.B. 1098 Here.

READ MORE

Baby Saved From Abortion Via Safe Haven Box in Conway

Abortion, , , ,

Last week Arkansas Right to Life reported that a newborn baby was safely and anonymously surrendered to first responders at Fire Station #1 Conway via the fire station’s Safe Haven Baby Box.

Arkansas’ Safe Haven Act of 2001 lets a woman surrender her newborn baby to law enforcement, medical personnel, and first responders. The law gives women with unplanned pregnancies an option besides abortion, and it protects newborns from being abandoned.

Similar laws are on the books in all 50 states.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes like the one in Conway can be installed at fire stations.

They let a woman surrender her newborn legally, safely, and anonymously using a specialized, hospital-grade bassinet that keeps the baby secure while a silent alarm notifies first responders inside the fire station that the baby is there.

This is an amazing, pro-life story.

Arkansas Right to Life currently is leading a billboard campaign to raise awareness about the state’s Safe Haven law. We look forward to that law saving the lives of other children in the future.

READ MORE