by Overview of New Mexico law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.
Law
- None
- Legislation Pending
- Espanola installed a SHBB without authorizing state law; other locations will probably follow. (New Mexico is not a Home Rule state)
New Mexico Statistics
Baby Boxes: 1
Cases: 0
Legislation
2023
- SB311 – Authorizes installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, with very specific requirements for installation, operation, monitoring, safety procedures, etc. Includes protections under the Indian Family Protection Act. Allows for first responders to pick up infants at an agreed-upon location that is not a SH site. Eliminates 90-day age limit for SH cases and replaces “age” “with “infant.” Sine Die
- HB327 = Companion bill. Sine Die
2022
- SB168 – Authorizes installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes at Baby Safe Haven locations through the state; $330,000 appropriation from the General Fund to the local government division of the Department of Finance and Administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2022 through 2025 to install “surrender safety devices” at state-owned safe haven sites; ( The Associated Press reported an appropriation of $1 million.) $70,000 allocated for BSH education in schools.
- HB 157 – House companion bill. Sine Die
2021
- HB 18 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement agencies. Location must be staffed at time of surrender. Specifically states that the law is not intended to abridge rights and obligations under ICWA. Sine Die
2020
- HB190 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement agencies. Location must be staffed at time of surrender. Specifically states that the law is not intended to abridge rights and obligations under ICWA. Sine Die.
Hearings/Testimony/Letters
- Hearing on SB311, Senate Judiciary Committee, February 20, 2023. Video
- Bastard Nation/SSHBBN Comments on SB311, February 20, 2023 (“Comments are limited to 300 words)
Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc commenting on raising awareness about Safe Have Baby Boxes in middle and high school curriculums in New Mexico:
When they’re in college somewhere else, they’re going to remember they can take a newborn to a fire station, or a hospital, based on the training they received in high school.
Seriously? Is this a natural progression?
News and Commentary
2023
- New Mexcico Senator reintroduces baby box bill one year after mother throws baby in dumpster, KWES-TV, January 16. 2023
- City of Belen to get lifesaving Baby Box at fire station, Belen News-Bulletin, February 16, 2023
- Baby Box funding still available to New Mexico counties, KOB-TV, April 1, 2023
- Espanola assistant fire chief: “So it’s anonymous, the mother doesn’t have to bring the baby and hand it to a firefighter,” when handling infant surrender, New Mexico Sun Report, April 17, 2023
- DFA offers $330K in Grants to Local Governments for Surrender Safety Devices to Help Safe Infaant Children, Los Alamos Daily Post, April 20, 20223
- Funding secured for Safe Haven Baby Box, Roswell Daily Record, April 27, 2-23
- Saving newborns one Safe Haven Baby Box at a time, Your Basin, May 11, 2023
2022
- Espanola approves Safe Haven “Baby Box” days after infant was thrown in dumpster, KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, January 11, 2022
- Safe Haven for Infants Law: New Mexico’s legislatinon to protect newborns, KOB-TV Albuquerque, January 11, 2022
- Sen. Leo Jaramillo and Sen. David Gallegos introduce “Baby Box” legislation, Los Alamos Reporter, January 25, 2022
- Fundraising begins for Baby Box in Belen, Belen News Bulletin, March 10, 2022
- City of Belen Moves Forward with Safe Haven Baby Box, Rio Grande Federated Republican Women, March 15, 2022
- Portales council declares city “safe haven.” Eastern New Mexico News, March 19, 2022
- Southern New Mexico City to Install Safe Havven “Baby Box,” Las Cruces Sun-TImes (Associated Press,l July 25, 2022
- Sertoma hears efforts to obtain Safe Haven Baby Box, Roswell Daily Record, September 18. 2022
- Press Release: DFA Local Government Division to provide $10K grants to local governments for Surrender Safety Devices, New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration Local Government Division, October 5 2022
- Carlsbad plans to install baby surrender box with $10K state grant, Carlsbad Current- Argus, October 29, 2011
2021
- Baby Box bill awaits first committee, Rio Grande Sun, February 12, 2021
2020
- Bill calls for Safe Haven “baby boxes” in New Mexico, KOB-TV Albuquerque, February 6, 2020
Updated May 13, 2023
