11-year-old boy is 31st Nebraska 'safe haven' case

[November 13, 2008]  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- An 11-year-old Florida boy was abandoned at a Nebraska hospital Wednesday, just days before lawmakers meet to change the much-criticized "safe haven" law.

The boy is the 31st child abandoned since the law took effect in July. It was intended to protect unwanted newborns from being abandoned but doesn't set any age limit.

Todd Landry, director of children and family services for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the boy's father left him at Boys Town National Research Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

The boy is from Miami-Dade County, but officials didn't immediately say whether the family had a connection to Nebraska. The department has contacted the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The Legislature opens a special session on Friday to fix the law. Most legislators have already agreed to add an age limit of 3 days, which would change Nebraska's law from the most lenient to one of the strictest in the nation.

The revised safe-haven law could take effect as early as next week if senators pass it with an emergency clause and the governor signs it right away.

[Associated Press; By ANNA JO BRATTON]

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