by An overview of Georgia law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.
Law
- No specific law authorizing installation of baby boxes
Legislation
2024
- HB1030 Amends Georgia’ safe haven law to authorize the use of “newborn safety devices” and other changes in safe haven law. Dead. Failed to meet cross-over deadline.
2020
- HB881 – Authorizes the use of newborn safety devices in hospitals, fire stations, and police stations; requires a state government committee to investigate boxes before they are enacted in law. Passed House 168-2-10. Not heard in Senate. Covid shutdown. Sine Die
News and Commentary
2023
- In two decades, Georga’s “Safe Haven” law has hardly been used, WXIA-TV, June 14,2023
2020
- Georgia lawmaker proposes adding ‘baby boxes’ for relinquished infants, Fox 5-Atlanta, February 11, 2020
2018
- Georgia: Second worst in the U.S. for abandoned infants, WSAV-TV, July 2, 2018. (Includes highly erroneous statistics on the number of discarded infants; that number has been picked up by numerous media)
2015
- Cobb County women creating Hope Box for abandoned babies, WMAX-TV, November 17, 2015
- Mothers Can Leave Newborns at ‘Hope Box’ in Safety, patch.com November 18, 2015 (unauthorized baby box?)
Information regarding The Hope Box operating in Georgia will be posted later.. The organization seems to be defunct.
Updated: FMarch 6, 2024
