A new Wyoming law that took effect last month giving parents of a newborn more time to decide whether to give their child up for adoption is drawing praise from those who work on adoption cases.

House Bill 90, also known as the Safety for a Newborn Child Act, updates Wyoming’s Safe Haven law.

Parents of a baby 60 days old or younger can now safely surrender their child for any reason to ensure the baby is cared for and safe. Under the new law, the parents will not be considered abusive or neglectful in doing so.

Under the old law, parents only had 14 days.

Safe Haven locations include, for example, a fire department, a police station or a hospital, provided these locations are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Debra Wendtland of Sheridan, an adoption attorney, says the new law takes the pressure off parents, gives them more time to evaluate whether they can handle parenthood, and reduces the likelihood that parents will regret their decision, whichever path they choose.

“The opportunity to give these moms even more time to see what real life is like and what I can and can’t handle is a good thing. It helps give that mom tools when she ultimately gives up on the child and the hard times come in the future and she asks herself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ She can say, ‘Yes, I tried. I tried, and the realities of everyday life proved that I should do it at that time in my life.'”

House Bill 90 was sponsored by Wyoming State Representative Rachel Rodriguez-Williams of Cody.

Click here for more details about the law.