# Title 75 — Department of Human Services

## Article 75-03 — Community Services

## Chapter 75-03-19.2 — Approved Locations for Abandoned Infants

### § 75-03-19.2-01. Definitions.

Those definitions set forth in North Dakota Century Code section 50-25.1-02 are applicable to this
chapter. Additionally, in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter requires otherwise:
1. "Criminal justice agencies" means the state highway patrol, a county sheriff's department,
bureau of criminal investigation, a city police department, a university or college police
department.
2. "Emergency medical services operations" has the same meaning as defined in North Dakota
Century Code section 23-27-02.
3. "Human service zones" has the same meaning as defined in North Dakota Century Code
section 50-01.1-01.
4. "Local public health units" has the same meaning as defined in North Dakota Century Code
section 23-35-01.
5. "Long-term care nursing facilities" has the same meaning as a "facility" or "nursing facility" as
defined in section 33-07-05-03.
6. "Regional human service centers" has the same meaning as defined in North Dakota Century
Code section 50-06-05.3.
History: Effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-25.1-15
### § 75-03-19.2-02. Department's authorized agent to receive reports and conduct assessments.

The department's authorized agent shall act as designee of the department for the purpose of
receiving reports of infants abandoned under the provisions of chapter 75-03-19 and North Dakota
Century Code section 50-25.1-15. Upon receipt of a report of an infant abandoned under North Dakota
Century Code section 50-25.1-15, the department's authorized agent shall conduct an assessment.
Upon a determination that the infant is unharmed, the assessment must be terminated and no child
abuse or neglect assessment decision shall be made.
History: Effective October 1, 2020; amended effective April 1, 2022.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-25.1-15
### § 75-03-19.2-03. Approved locations.

Approved locations for relinquishing an infant with an on-duty staff member under this chapter is
limited to the following physical locations, as well as the offsite location of on-duty staff members of the
following:
1. Local public health units;

2. Human service zones;
3. Regional human service centers;
4. Long-term care nursing facilities;
5. Children's advocacy centers;
6. Emergency medical services operations; and
7. Criminal justice agencies.
History: Effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-25.1-15
### § 75-03-19.2-04. Infants abandoned at a hospital at birth.

When an infant is born and abandoned at birth while remaining at the same hospital, the infant will
be considered an abandoned infant under this chapter when the parent of a child in that parent's
custody fails to arrange for the child's discharge within ten days after the child no longer requires
hospital care without regard to a parent's or agent's verbal statement of intention to abandon the infant.
History: Effective October 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 50-06-16
Law Implemented: NDCC 50-25.1-15
