Public policy

Public policy. Illinois recognizes that newborn infants have been abandoned to the environment or to other circumstances that may be unsafe to the newborn infant. These circumstances have caused injury and death to newborn infants and give rise to potential civil or criminal liability to parents who may be under severe emotional distress. It is recognized that establishing an adoption plan is preferable to relinquishing a child using the procedures outlined in this Act, but to reduce the chance of injury to a newborn infant, this Act provides a safer alternative. This Act is intended to provide a mechanism for a newborn infant to be relinquished to a safe environment and for the parents of the infant to remain anonymous if they choose and to avoid civil or criminal liability for the act of relinquishing the infant. A public information campaign on this delicate issue shall be implemented to encourage parents considering abandonment of their newborn child to relinquish the child under the procedures outlined in this Act, to choose a traditional adoption plan, or to parent a child themselves rather than place the newborn infant in harm's way. (Source: P.A. 103-501, eff. 1-1-24.)