DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say a newborn boy has been surrendered to state custody under Iowa’s safe haven law.
The Iowa Department of Human Services says it is the 33rd time the safe haven provision has been used since it went into effect in 2001.
The department says the baby was born Feb. 2 at an Iowa hospital and released to the custody of DHS officials.
Iowa lawmakers changed state law following a 2001 case in which a mother killed her home-delivered newborn in eastern Iowa. Under the law, parents can give the state custody of babies who are 30 days or younger without concern of being prosecuted. Parents or an authorized representative can leave infants at a hospital or other health care facility.
The babies are placed with foster or adoptive families.
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