DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A baby has been surrendered under Iowa’s safe haven law for the second time in as many months, officials said Thursday.
The Iowa Department of Human Services said in a news release that a baby girl, born Oct. 12, was recently released to the custody of the agency, marking the 47th time the state’s safe haven law has been used. The department declined to give details on where the baby was surrendered, citing privacy policies.
Earlier this month, Iowa officials reported that another baby girl born on Sept. 27 was surrendered to state custody under the safe haven law.
Iowa lawmakers changed state law following a 2001 case in which a mother killed her home-delivered newborn in eastern Iowa. Under the law, parents can give the state custody of babies who are 30 days or younger without concern of being prosecuted. Parents or an authorized representative can leave infants at a hospital or other health care facility.
Surrendered babies are placed with foster or adoptive families.
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