ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A newly-expanded law gives Alaskan parents who want to safely surrender their infants more options.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed SB9 into law Sept. 9. For the first time, it allows communities to install baby drop boxes in designated locations where parents can surrender their infants anonymously and without fear of prosecution for abandonment.
Alaska’s Safe Haven Law already allows parents to surrender an infant that is less than 21 days old to individuals including firefighters, medical and law enforcement personnel, but they had to do that in person. Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage said that requirement could discourage parents in crisis…