LINCOLN- A bill that would expand the number of locations that children can be surrendered to advanced from its first round of debate on Wednesday, but only after Sen. Holdcroft, the bill's introducer, agreed to remove the use of 'baby boxes' for the drop-offs. The bill, formally titled the Newborn Safe Haven Act, was described by Holdcroft as giving parents in crisis more avenues to drop off their children without facing abandonment charges.

Currently, state law only allows for such drop-offs at hospitals. LB867 would expand the locations to include fire and police stations that are staffed 24/7, and increase the maximum age of newborns that could be dropped off, from 30 days old to 90 days. However, the bill became controversial when discussion turned to whether or not drop-off locations should install a padded, climate-controlled "newborn safety device," or 'baby box.'

Sen. Carol Blood launched a filibuster over the issue, saying baby boxes are not safety-inspected, would allow parents to drop off a child without counseling, and "could unknowingly provide concealment from crimes such as rape, incest, or human trafficking." After hours of debate, Holdcroft agreed to work with Blood to remove the baby box provisions of the bill. The measure then advanced on a 38-0 vote.

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