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Infant Protection: New Hospital Security Rules and Penalties

This act introduces new security rules for hospitals to prevent infant abductions and baby switching. Hospitals receiving Medicare payments will be required to implement specific procedures for identifying and monitoring newborns. Failure to comply can result in significant financial penalties, and intentional baby switching will become a federal crime.
Key points
Hospitals receiving Medicare payments must implement security procedures to prevent infant abduction and baby switching.
These procedures include systems for identifying all infants to ensure any missing child is quickly noticed.
Hospitals failing to meet these requirements may face fines up to $50,000 (or $25,000 for smaller hospitals).
Intentionally switching babies is now a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and substantial fines.
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_142
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Process start date: 2021-01-04
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Infant Protection and Baby Switching Prevention Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_142.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-04.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Hospitals receiving Medicare payments must implement security procedures to prevent infant abduction and baby switching.
  • These procedures include systems for identifying all infants to ensure any missing child is quickly noticed.
  • Hospitals failing to meet these requirements may face fines up to $50,000 (or $25,000 for smaller hospitals).
  • Intentionally switching babies is now a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and substantial fines.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

CATEGORIES

Health Security Courts and Law