Assemblywoman Joan Quigley

By | March 3rd, 2006 - 7:15pm
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Release Date: 
Mar 3 2006
Teaser: 

QUIGLEY UNVEILS BILL TO SPUR NEW AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
TO COMBAT ABANDONMENT OF NEWBORNS
Bipartisan Measure Would Require Placement of Promotional Posters
For Safe Haven Program In Public Women's Rooms

QUIGLEY UNVEILS BILL TO SPUR NEW AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
TO COMBAT ABANDONMENT OF NEWBORNS
Bipartisan Measure Would Require Placement of Promotional Posters
For Safe Haven Program In Public Women's RoomsFor Release:
March 3, 2006

Contact:
Assemblywoman Quigley
(201) 217-4614

(JERSEY CITY) – Assemblywoman Joan Quigley has introduced legislation to enhance the state's "Safe Haven" newborn protection law to promote greater awareness of the state program aimed at reducing infant abandonment.

Quigley's bill (A-2837) would require posters promoting the Safe Haven law and providing 24-hour, toll-free contact information to be placed in every publicly-accessible women's restroom in the state, including public and private elementary and secondary schools, and colleges and universities.

The Safe Haven law enables parents of an unwanted newborn child to anonymously leave the infant at any hospital emergency room or police station in New Jersey. Since its enactment in August 2000, 22 newborn infants have safely been turned over to health or law enforcement authorities. However, during that same time, 19 infants were illegally abandoned – and several died.

"Although Safe Haven has ensured a new lease on life for nearly two-dozen infants, it is disturbing that a nearly equal number of babies have been summarily abandoned," said Quigley (D-Hudson). "If we want our Safe Haven law to exceed our expectations, we must do everything possible to ensure that new and expectant mothers know about this program. We cannot leave a person's recognition of the Safe Haven program to chance."

Quigley said that the 46 percent failure rate for parents of unwanted newborns to take advantage of Safe Haven requires the Legislature to use creative means to better promote awareness of the no-questions-asked program.

"Any woman questioning her ability or desire to be a mother needs to know that there is a safe, legal alternative to simply dumping an unwanted child in the hopes it will be found alive," said Quigley. "We must be proactive to protect our most vulnerable children."

The measure is cosponsored by 11 of Quigley's woman legislative colleagues, representing both political parties.

The bill has been referred to the Assembly Human Services Committee for consideration.

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