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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indiana legislator is proposing legislation that would permit expanded use of baby boxes in which a mother could anonymously give up her newborn.
Republican state Sen. Travis Holdman of Markle announced Wednesday his bill would allow fire departments that are continually staffed to install the devices.
A state law passed last year allows for such boxes at hospitals, though proponents say none have been installed yet. Two fire departments that previously installed such devices were also grandfathered in under the law.
Baby boxes are heated and contain an alarm that alerts when a baby is placed inside. But child welfare authorities have voiced concerns about a lack of safeguards in place to ensure the safety of the boxes.
Holdman said his latest effort helps address those concerns by only allowing the boxes to be installed continuously staffed locations.
Legislators returned to the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday to begin this year’s General Assembly session that must end by mid-March.
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