BabySafeHaven
11-12-2003, 10:50 AM
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The Spectator
Somerset - Swansea - Dighton - Rehoboth
Town's state reps support safe haven
By GEORGE AUSTIN
Editor
November 5, 2003
Michael Morrissey and his wife, Jean Morrissey, have been advocating for
“baby safe haven laws” ever since they were put in charge of overseeing the
burial of a newborn that was found behind a cemetery.
Baby safe haven laws allow mothers to give a baby to a police station, fire
station or hospital without being asked questions and with no fear of being
prosecuted.
Massachusetts is one of only five states in the country that does not have baby
safe haven laws. Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii and Nebraska are the others.
Morrissey said there have been 10 baby abandonments in Massachusetts since May
1. He said six of those abandonments resulted in the deaths of the newborns.
A Swansea woman admitted this week that a baby she said she found abandoned was
actually her own. Morrissey called the woman's case “a fake abandonment.”
He said she could have gone to Rhode Is land under that state's safe haven baby
laws.
“Thankfully, there was no harm to any party physically or we could be talking
about a far worse situation,” Morrissey said.
Morrissey said there was a bill filed in the state Legislature 3 1/2 years ago
to create a baby safe haven law. But he said the bill has been “forgotten
about or “ruined” by committees.
“There are groups fighting this and the highest concentration of groups that
are anti-baby safe haven is right here in Massachusetts,” Morrissey said.
State Rep. Patricia Haddad (D*Somerset) said she supports baby safe haven
laws. She said she has cosigned to bills on baby safe haven laws.
“What happened this week is such a perfect example of why we need legislation
like this, Rep. Haddad said. “If you have a safe haven, it's going to save a
child from being harmed or being abandoned and not having the safe outcome that
this situation had.
Rep. Haddad said four bills that have been filed in the Legislature are being
looked at by the Children's Caucus to consolidate them into one bill that would
receive the broadest support so it would have the best chance for passing.
Rep. Haddad said some people think baby safe haven laws foster irresponsible
behavior. But she said when a person cannot cope with taking care of a baby the
best thing to do is find a possible solution that is in the best interest of
the people involved, especially the child.
Rep. Haddad said the Swansea woman who admitted to making up the story about
the abandoned child at least brought the baby to a place that was safe for the
child when she went to the police.
Rep. Philip Travis (D*Rehoboth) has supported baby safe haven legislation in
the past.
“He feels they are essential and necessary in Massachusetts to protect
newborns,” Rep. Haddad said.
Morrissey said the baby safe haven bill has been stuck in the Human Services
and Elderly Affairs Committee. He said legislators are trying to make
amendments to the bill this year that would not be attractive to other
representatives.
“It's bill killing tactics again,” Morrissey said.
Morrissey said he and his wife have gone to every city in Massachusetts where
they have proposed city ordinances for baby safe haven laws, since the
Legislature has not approved the bill. Boston and Westfield have approved home
rule petitions for such ordinances that they are asking the state Legislature
to approve. Framingham and Ludlow have also approved of such home rule
petitions they want the Legislature to take up.
“The votes have been 95 per*cent positive at town meetings,” Morrissey
said. “They’re virtually
unanimous.
The home rule petitions are modeled after the proposed legislation in the State
House. Morrissey said they allow the mother, or her assignee, such as a
husband, boyfriend or friend, to bring the baby to a place where it can be
taken care of.
Morrissey said the goal of him and his wife is to get the home rule petitions
passed in 100 cities and towns to the commonwealth to show the legislature that
the public wants such laws.
Momssey said he and his wife would go to Swansea or towns nearby to discuss
baby safe haven laws.
The Spectator
Somerset - Swansea - Dighton - Rehoboth
Town's state reps support safe haven
By GEORGE AUSTIN
Editor
November 5, 2003
Michael Morrissey and his wife, Jean Morrissey, have been advocating for
“baby safe haven laws” ever since they were put in charge of overseeing the
burial of a newborn that was found behind a cemetery.
Baby safe haven laws allow mothers to give a baby to a police station, fire
station or hospital without being asked questions and with no fear of being
prosecuted.
Massachusetts is one of only five states in the country that does not have baby
safe haven laws. Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii and Nebraska are the others.
Morrissey said there have been 10 baby abandonments in Massachusetts since May
1. He said six of those abandonments resulted in the deaths of the newborns.
A Swansea woman admitted this week that a baby she said she found abandoned was
actually her own. Morrissey called the woman's case “a fake abandonment.”
He said she could have gone to Rhode Is land under that state's safe haven baby
laws.
“Thankfully, there was no harm to any party physically or we could be talking
about a far worse situation,” Morrissey said.
Morrissey said there was a bill filed in the state Legislature 3 1/2 years ago
to create a baby safe haven law. But he said the bill has been “forgotten
about or “ruined” by committees.
“There are groups fighting this and the highest concentration of groups that
are anti-baby safe haven is right here in Massachusetts,” Morrissey said.
State Rep. Patricia Haddad (D*Somerset) said she supports baby safe haven
laws. She said she has cosigned to bills on baby safe haven laws.
“What happened this week is such a perfect example of why we need legislation
like this, Rep. Haddad said. “If you have a safe haven, it's going to save a
child from being harmed or being abandoned and not having the safe outcome that
this situation had.
Rep. Haddad said four bills that have been filed in the Legislature are being
looked at by the Children's Caucus to consolidate them into one bill that would
receive the broadest support so it would have the best chance for passing.
Rep. Haddad said some people think baby safe haven laws foster irresponsible
behavior. But she said when a person cannot cope with taking care of a baby the
best thing to do is find a possible solution that is in the best interest of
the people involved, especially the child.
Rep. Haddad said the Swansea woman who admitted to making up the story about
the abandoned child at least brought the baby to a place that was safe for the
child when she went to the police.
Rep. Philip Travis (D*Rehoboth) has supported baby safe haven legislation in
the past.
“He feels they are essential and necessary in Massachusetts to protect
newborns,” Rep. Haddad said.
Morrissey said the baby safe haven bill has been stuck in the Human Services
and Elderly Affairs Committee. He said legislators are trying to make
amendments to the bill this year that would not be attractive to other
representatives.
“It's bill killing tactics again,” Morrissey said.
Morrissey said he and his wife have gone to every city in Massachusetts where
they have proposed city ordinances for baby safe haven laws, since the
Legislature has not approved the bill. Boston and Westfield have approved home
rule petitions for such ordinances that they are asking the state Legislature
to approve. Framingham and Ludlow have also approved of such home rule
petitions they want the Legislature to take up.
“The votes have been 95 per*cent positive at town meetings,” Morrissey
said. “They’re virtually
unanimous.
The home rule petitions are modeled after the proposed legislation in the State
House. Morrissey said they allow the mother, or her assignee, such as a
husband, boyfriend or friend, to bring the baby to a place where it can be
taken care of.
Morrissey said the goal of him and his wife is to get the home rule petitions
passed in 100 cities and towns to the commonwealth to show the legislature that
the public wants such laws.
Momssey said he and his wife would go to Swansea or towns nearby to discuss
baby safe haven laws.
