Hospital procedures to aid in the identification of newborns and reduction of newborn and infant abductions; prerequisites to licensure

Sec. 15.4. (a) To obtain a license under this chapter, a hospital must demonstrate that the hospital has established procedures designed to reduce the likelihood of abduction of newborn babies and other infants from the hospital. These procedures may include the following: (1) Architectural plans to control access to areas of infant care. (2) Video camera observation of areas of infant care. (3) Procedures to identify hospital staff and visitors. (b) To obtain a license under this chapter, a hospital must demonstrate that the hospital has established procedures to aid in the identification of newborns and other infants. These procedures may include the following: (1) Footprinting of newborn infants by staff who have been trained by law enforcement personnel. (2) Photographing of newborn infants at the time of their birth and photographing of other infants upon their admission to the hospital. (3) Maintaining full written descriptions of each infant together with their footprints and photographs. (4) Obtaining and retaining cord blood samples at the time of an infant's birth for purposes of conducting genetic testing. (c) Failure to comply with this section is grounds for suspension or revocation of a hospital's license.