§ 26-25-1.1 — Voluntary Surrender of Custody of Newborn Infant After Hospital Birth

Alabama § 26-25-1.1

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 26: Infants and Incompetents
• Ch. 25: Leaving Abandoned Infant with Emergency Medical Services Provider

Text

(a) A woman admitted to a hospital for purposes of labor and delivery may surrender custody of her newborn infant. If a woman expresses a desire to voluntarily surrender custody of her newborn infant after birth, an emergency medical services provider shall take possession of the infant, without any further action by the woman, as if the infant had been surrendered in the same manner as Section 26-25-1.
(b) A woman who surrenders a newborn infant pursuant to this section is entitled to the legal protections of anonymity guaranteed under this chapter. If the woman expresses a desire to remain anonymous, identifying information may be obtained only for purposes of securing payment of labor and delivery costs. If the birth mother is a minor, the hospital may use the identifying information to secure payment through Medicaid, but may not notify the minor’s parent or guardian without the minor’s consent.
(c) Except as required by subsection (b), the identity of a birth mother who surrenders her infant pursuant to this section shall not be placed on the birth certificate or disclosed to any other individual or entity, including state and local agencies.

Legislative History

(Act 2023-508, §2.)