Bill Text: CT SB00218 | 2010 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Safe Haven Cases And The Termination Of Rental Agreements By Victims Of Family Violence.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2010-06-08 - Signed by the Governor [SB00218 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2010-SB00218-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2010 |
*_____SB00218HS____032210____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING SAFE HAVEN CASES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 17a-59 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) Not more than twenty-four hours after taking physical custody of the infant the [designated] employee designated pursuant to section 17a-57 shall notify, in accordance with the provisions of sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d, inclusive, the Department of Children and Families of such custody.
(b) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall assume the care and control of the infant immediately upon receipt of notice under subsection (a) of this section. [and] Any infant in the care and control of the commissioner under the provisions of this section shall be considered to be in the custody of the department and the department shall take any action authorized under state law to achieve safety and permanency for the infant, including institution of legal proceedings for guardianship or termination of parental rights. The department shall provide notification of such legal proceedings to any parent of an infant when the identity of the parent is known to the department.
[(c) Any infant in the care and control of the commissioner under the provisions of this section shall be considered to be in the custody of the department.]
Sec. 2. Section 17a-60 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) If a person claiming to be a parent or agent of an infant [left with] surrendered to a designated employee under section 17a-58, as amended by this act, submits a request to the Commissioner of Children and Families for reunification with the infant, the commissioner may identify, contact and investigate such person or agent to determine if such reunification is appropriate or if the parental rights of the parent should be terminated.
(b) Information concerning a parent or agent, or an infant [left with] surrendered to a designated employee, shall [be confidential] not be disclosed by the designated employee, if so requested by the parent or agent, except that notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, such employee shall (1) provide to the Commissioner of Children and Families all medical history information provided by the parent, and (2) provide to the Commissioner of Public Health, the name and date of birth of the infant if the infant's birth has been registered in the state vital records system prior to the surrender of the infant, for the sole purpose of sealing the infant's original birth record. The infant's name and date of birth shall not be disclosed on the report of a foundling child described in section 7-59.
(c) Possession of a bracelet linking the parent or agent to an infant [left with] surrendered to a designated employee if parental rights have not been terminated creates a presumption the parent or [person] agent has standing to participate in a custody hearing for the infant under chapter 319a [and] but does not create a presumption of maternity, paternity or custody.
Sec. 3. Section 17a-58 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) An employee designated pursuant to section 17a-57 shall take physical custody of any infant thirty days or younger if the parent or lawful agent of the parent voluntarily surrenders physical custody of the infant to such designated employee unless the parent or agent clearly expresses an intent to return for the infant.
(b) If the mother of an infant wishes to voluntarily surrender physical custody of the infant while the mother is in the hospital to give birth to the infant, the mother shall provide notice that she wishes to surrender physical custody of the infant, in writing, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, and deliver such notice to any hospital employee. Upon receipt of such notice, the hospital employee shall notify the designated employee pursuant to section 17a-57, who shall immediately take physical custody of the infant.
[(b)] (c) The designated employee may request the parent or agent to provide (1) the name of the parent or agent, [and] (2) information on the medical history of the infant and parents, and (3) the infant's name and date of birth if the infant's birth has been registered in the state vital records system prior to the surrender of the infant. [The] Notwithstanding such a request from the designated employee, the parent or agent is not required to provide such name or information. The designated employee may provide the parent or agent with a numbered identification bracelet to link the parent or agent to the infant. The bracelet shall be used for identification only and shall not be construed to authorize the person who possesses the bracelet to take custody of the infant on demand. The designated employee shall provide the parent or agent with a pamphlet describing the process established under sections 17a-57 to 17a-61, inclusive, as amended by this act, 53-21 and 53-23.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2010 |
17a-59 |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2010 |
17a-60 |
Sec. 3 |
July 1, 2010 |
17a-58 |
HS |
Joint Favorable Subst. |