The question has become much bigger than whether Nebraska should have a safe haven for unwanted infants. With nine families so far having taken advantage of a safe haven law that allows them to abandon older children at Nebraska hospitals, state senators want to hear from the public and professionals. Sen. Brad Ashford, chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Joel Johnson, chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, will oversee a hearing Nov. 13 on the safe haven law.
The joint hearing will allow the public to comment on the use of LB157 by parents and guardians since the bill became effective on July 18, and possible amendments to the statute. People can also talk about the resources available to children living in crisis, the process a parent or guardian must undertake to access available services, and suggested changes to Nebraska's child protection system. “There are so many stakeholders in this issue,” Ashford said.
Link: http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/10/08/news/local/doc48ebebad08fd5892388550.txt