Indiana Considers Abandoned Baby Box

Indiana may become the first state to install baby boxes, or newborn incubators, that enable mothers to anonymously and safely give up unwanted newborns. The state house unanimously passed a bill aimed at preventing dangerous abandonment of babies by creating a safe alternative to hand over infants at hospitals, police stations, fire stations, churches, and selected nonprofits. The state senate will now review the bill. Republican state Rep. Casey Cox, who sponsored the measure, said it could bolster “safe haven” laws across the country that give parents a legal way to give up children without fear of being arrested. The boxes, which would be regulated by the state health department and considered a “last resort,” would also feature a silent alarm that can be activated to notify authorities that a baby is inside. The bill covers children up to 31 days old.