Committee Meeting Resources

SUPPORTING POSITION: You want to allow Newborn Safety Devices (NSDs) to be installed and used at emergency service provider locations in order to ensure the safety of newborns who are being legally abandoned by parents who are unwilling to engage in face-to-face interaction while legally abandoning their child. This bill would amend current Safe Haven Laws which you believe have been effective, but the protections should go one step further.

OPPOSING POSITION: You oppose this bill. You believe that additional complications would arise with this bill including the question of whether the mother is actually the one surrendering the baby, how much additional training must be given to the ones who must monitor the surrender, and the potential increased rates of abandonment as a result. It does not address who will be held liable happens to a baby placed in an NSD as well as requiring standards for NSD to be outlined by the Michigan department of Health after the bill passes, rather than including those standards in the bill itself. This means that no one will know what those standards are until after this bill is signed into law.

Bill & Analysis
Bill and Analysis – HB 5751 Safe Haven Device

Testimonies
Supporting Arguments – Testimony
Opposing Arguments – Testimony

Additional Resources
Explanatory Article – Baby Boxes, Safe Haven Laws: A “Last Resort’ to Curb Infant Abandonment
Explanatory Article – FAQ: Safe Haven Movement, Baby Boxes, and Laws

SUPPORTING POSITION: You believe that the immediate needs of the youth in question must be addressed and that contacting a parent in these circumstances may be too difficult to acquire or would be hazardous to the youth in an abusive situation.

OPPOSING POSITION: You believe that this bill is too broad in what medical services may be provided and opens the door to removing consideration for parental consent in general and that, while well intentioned, this bill will likely have significant consequences for the family unit.

Bill & Analysis
Bill and Analysis – HB 4087 Homeless Youth Medical Care

Testimonies
Supporting Arguments – Testimony
Opposing Arguments – Testimony

Additional Resources
Explanatory Article – Supporting Homeless Youth in Michigan
Explanatory Article – Bill Introduction

***NOTE: LEAD has edited this bill to not allow homeless or runaway youth to consent to an abortion or gender affirming medical treatment. Please be aware of this as you do additional research for your testimony.