Date posted:
Attachment(s):
This rulemaking proposes to establish guidelines for the safe installation and use of safe haven baby boxes at qualifying safe haven provider locations before they are put into service. Public Law 2021, c. 466 amended Maine’s Safe Haven law to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules to ensure the safe design, installation, and use of each safe haven baby box before it may be put into service by a hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department.
Safe haven provider locations that may voluntarily install and use safe haven baby boxes include hospitals, law enforcement facilities, and fire department facilities. Safe haven providers with installed baby boxes must have their facilities staffed by a medical services provider 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Safe haven providers that choose to install baby boxes must have safe haven baby boxes certified for safe use by a professional engineer, architect, or interior designer prior to being put into service, and they must have baby boxes recertified annually. Safe haven providers must register baby boxes with the Office of Child and Family Services and must renew safe haven baby box registrations annually. This rulemaking also establishes guidelines for the required testing of safe haven baby boxes and procedures required of safe haven baby box providers when children are delivered to baby boxes.
Statutory Authority: 22 M.R.S.A. § 42(1); 22 M.R.S.A § 4018; PL 2021, c. 466
Agency Contact Person:
Connor Kelley, Quality Assurance Specialist Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services 2 Anthony Avenue Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 PHONE: 207-441-0933 EMAIL: connor.kelley@maine.gov FAX: (207) 287-3707 TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing)
Proposed
Office: Child and Family Services
Routine technical
Email: connor.kelley@maine.gov
Public hearing: -
Meeting location:
Department of Health and Human Services
109 Capitol St., Augusta, ME 04330
Meeting link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/89477171097?pwd=amDxhaWBIFonGmp9aDvOuQgF7tZccf.1
Comment deadline:
On