Safe Haven Baby Boxes, 10-148 C.M.R. Ch. 22

Date posted:

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This rulemaking establishes guidelines for the safe installation and use of safe haven baby boxes at qualifying safe haven provider locations before they are put into service. Public Law 2021, c. 466 amended Maine’s Safe Haven law to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules to ensure the safe design, installation, and use of each safe haven baby box before it may be put into service by a hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department.

Safe haven provider locations that may voluntarily install and use safe haven baby boxes include hospitals, law enforcement facilities, and fire department facilities. Safe haven providers with installed baby boxes must have their facilities staffed by a medical services provider 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Safe haven providers that choose to install baby boxes must have safe haven baby boxes certified for safe use by a professional engineer, architect, electrician, or interior designer prior to being put into service, and they must have baby boxes recertified annually. Safe haven providers must register baby boxes with the Office of Child and Family Services and must renew safe haven baby box registrations annually. This rulemaking also establishes guidelines for the required testing of safe haven baby boxes and procedures required of safe haven baby box providers when children are delivered to baby boxes.

Statutory Authority: 22 M.R.S.A. § 42(1); 22 M.R.S.A § 4018; PL 2021, c. 466

Agency Contact Person:

Connor Kelley, Quality Assurance Specialist Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services 2 Anthony Avenue Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 PHONE: 207-441-0933 EMAIL: rulemaking.ocfs@maine.gov FAX: (207) 287-3707 TTY: 711 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing)

Office: Child and Family Services

Meeting location:

Public Hearing: Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at 1pm Eastern Standard Time (U.S. and Canada).

Meeting Location: The Department of Health and Human Services, 109 Capitol St., Augusta, ME 04330. An online option was available via Zoom at: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/89477171097?pwd=amDxhaWBIFonGmp9aDvOuQgF7tZccf.1

Comment Deadline: The Department accepted written comments via U.S. mail, e-mail, or fax until Sunday, January 12th 2025 at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time (U.S. and Canada).

Comment deadline:

Effective date:

Comments for this rule have been closed.