Title 23
Health and Safety

Chapter 13.1
The Safe Haven for Infants Act

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13.1-4

§ 23-13.1-4. Immunity.

A person who leaves an infant, age thirty (30) days or younger, at a hospital or other facility designated under this chapter, or directs another person to do so, shall be immune from prosecution only for the act of abandonment of the infant pursuant to §§ 11-2-1 and 11-9-5(a) provided that:

(1) The person is the parent of the infant or is acting at the direction of a parent;

(2) The infant is left in the physical custody of a staff member of the hospital or other facility designated under this chapter;

(3) A comprehensive medical examination of the infant determines the infant has not been harmed or been the victim or any physical neglect or abuse. Injuries and/or conditions resulting from childbirth shall not be considered harm, abuse or neglect for the purposes of this section.

History of Section.
P.L. 2001, ch. 53, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 130, § 1.