Neb. debates age for safe-haven law

Nebraskans listened as a woman who gave up her 11-year-old under the safe-haven law testified to legislators in Lincoln. (Nati Harnik/Associated Press)

LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska legislators opened a public hearing yesterday on adding an age limit to a safe-haven law that has allowed nearly three dozen children - some close to adulthood - to be abandoned at hospitals.

Lawmakers are in a special session called by Governor Dave Heineman, who has proposed allowing parents and guardians to drop off only infants no older than three days at hospitals without fear of prosecution for the abandonment.

Some legislators want a higher limit; Senator Chris Langemeier of Schuyler said yesterday it should be 30 days.

At three days, "you haven't spent all night up with them, you haven't fed them . . . everything that goes along with being a new parent hasn't set in yet," Langemeier said after introducing his amendment.

Another amendment to Heineman's bill would cap the age at 1 year. Yet another would set a limit of 15 years, but that bill was not expected to reach the full Legislature because it includes provisions on new crisis services that go beyond the scope of the special session.

The governor said yesterday that he's flexible on an age limit and is willing to work with the Legislature.

ASSOCIATED PRESS