SAULT STE. MARIE — A Sault Ste. Marie mother and pro-life advocate said she is pushing for bipartisan legislation to allow newborn safety devices that would provide communities with a location where mothers could surrender newborns anonymously with no one or cameras present.
The advocate, Lisa Young, said Michigan law currently allows babies up to 3 days old to be legally surrendered confidentially in a face-to-face handoff at any police, fire or EMS building or hospital.
Young said there is a difference between giving up a baby to a person and surrendering a baby using a safe baby box, and she said confidential does not necessarily mean anonymous.
“Women want the anonymous surrender,” Young said. “In crisis, they want to be able to use this as a last resort. It’s not first option, but it is a last resort to save babies. I’m shocked there’s any resistance to having this option for women.”
If the law is passed, Young said the city would need to approve the location of the baby box if it is on a city-owned property or at an entity such as a 24-hour manned police or fire station.