SF 360 (LSB 2122SV (2) 87)

SENATE FILE 360

BY  COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 183)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to institutional health facilities under the newborn safe haven Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 233.1, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  “Institutional health facility” means any of the following to the extent the facility, building, or agency is available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week: 
   (1)  a A hospital as defined in section 135B.1, including a facility providing medical or health services that is open twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week and is a hospital emergency room or a health care facility as defined in section 135C.1.
   (2)  A facility for an authorized emergency medical services service program, as defined in section 147A.1, subsection 12.
   (3)  A licensed emergency care facility, as defined in section 147A.21, that is a freestanding facility.
   (4)  A licensed child-placing agency, as defined in section 238.1, that meets all of the following criteria:
   (a)  Agrees to act as a designated emergency infant care provider.
   (b)  Employs a licensed registered nurse or another individual who performs reasonable acts necessary to protect the physical health or safety of the newborn infant.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to institutional health facilities authorized under the newborn safe haven Act to accept the voluntary relinquishment of physical custody of a newborn infant by a parent of a newborn infant up to 14 days old, or by a person authorized by the parent, without fear of prosecution for abandonment.
   Under current law, “institutional health facility” means a hospital, including a facility providing medical or health services that is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week and is a hospital emergency room or a health care facility.
   The bill amends the definition of “institutional health facility” to include a facility for an authorized emergency medical services service program, a freestanding licensed emergency medical care facility, and a licensed child-placing agency that meets certain criteria, to the extent the facility, building, or agency is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.