What is the Texas Safe Haven Law?
Texas was the first state to introduce a Safe Haven Law in 1999, also known as the Baby Moses Law. The law aims to prevent infant deaths by offering parents the option to leave their unharmed newborn at a designated Safe Haven location. It provides a compassionate, safe, anonymous, and legal alternative to infant abandonment.
To view the Texas Safe Haven law:
How Safe Haven Surrenders Works
The Safe Haven / Baby Moses Law gives parents a safe and legal choice to leave their unharmed infant with an employee at a designated Safe Haven within 60 days of birth.
Safe Havens are hospitals, fire stations, free-standing emergency centers, or emergency medical services (EMS) stations.
After being received, the baby will be assessed and provided medical care, and the adoption process will begin.
Once surrendered, you will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect. All parental rights to the surrendered child are relinquished by law.
Steps to Safely Surrender a Newborn
You can safely and legally surrender an unharmed baby within 60 days — without fear, without judgment, and without revealing your identity.
Steps to safely surrender a newborn:
- Go to a Safe Haven, such as a hospital, fire station, or emergency medical services (EMS) station.
- Hand the baby to staff. You need to give your baby to an employee who works at one of these safe places and tell this person that you want to surrender your baby at the Safe Haven.
- You Are Not Required to Answer any questions.Some agencies may request medical information about your baby. You are not required to provide any information. This is not an attempt to learn your identity. Any medical information will be put in your baby’s records and may help answer health questions in the future.
Some fire stations have baby boxes, which are devices designed to offer a fully confidential and secure option to surrender a baby. Boxes are climate-controlled, and first responders are notified immediately when a baby is placed inside so they can assess the child and provide care.
Call, text or chat the Baby Moses Hotline to find a baby box near you.
You can safely and legally surrender an unharmed baby within 60 days — without fear, without judgment, and without revealing your identity.
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