Texas' safe haven law allows parents to give up newborns, but it's rarely used. Here's what to know.

Safe haven laws, also known as "Baby Moses laws," originated in Texas and have been around for years. But the laws are rarely used and many people don't even know they exist. With discussion around the laws resurfacing in the months after Roe v. Wade's overturn, here's what you need to know. What are safe haven laws? A flurry of Houston baby abandonments in the '90s led Texas to become the first state to enact a safe haven law in 1999. Created as an incentive for parents in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns, the law allow parents to drop off babies 60 days or younger at any hospital, fire station or EMS station in the state, no questions asked. The baby will then be protected and given medical care until a permanent home is found. Provided the baby arrives unharmed and safe, the parents avoid prosecution for abandonment or neglect.

Do people actually use the laws? Roughly 400,000 babies are born in Texas each year, but data shows that a small fraction of people actually utilize the option. Just 172 infants have been relinquished under the state's safe haven law since 2009, according to data from the Department of Family and Protective Services. Why? Most families have likely never heard of it, said Sheila M. Katz, a sociology professor at the University of Houston. This is especially true for middle- and low-income families who may not have the "extra bandwidth" to explore something until they're in the situation, Katz said. Data shows Texas' annual number of cases hasn't greatly fluctuated over the years, but Texas saw a jump in cases in 2020, with 21 children surrendered in total. Nine of those cases came from Harris County and its surrounding counties.