Capitol Notebook: 5th infant this year relinquished under Iowa Safe Haven Law

A baby girl born July 30 was surrendered through Iowa’s Safe Haven Law and is now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the state announced Friday.

It is the fifth Save Haven Baby in Iowa this year. Under the program, the infant will be placed with foster families until a permanent home is determined.

Iowa’s Safe Haven Law allows parents in crisis who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old to relinquish the infant to the state. Designated safe havens include hospitals and police and fire stations. Health and Human Services then works to place relinquished infants in approved foster homes while the child awaits adoption.

Ten infants were relinquished to the state under the law in 2023; there have been 71 infants relinquished since the law’s creation more than two decades ago, according to the department.

More information on Iowa’s Safe Haven Law is available at hhs.iowa.gov. Iowans interested in becoming a foster parent or adopting a child can visit iowafosterandadoption.org.

Iowa Supreme Court calendar set

The Iowa Supreme Court’s 2024-2025 term has been scheduled, and will run from Sept. 1 to June 30.

The Supreme Court has scheduled seven special sessions at locations throughout the state, with five of them in the evening to better allow the public to see the court in action.

A full listing can be found at the Iowa Supreme Court’s website at iowacourts.gov.

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Iowa AB Bird investigates financial company

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced her office is investigating the New York-based financial company MSCI for allegedly targeting companies that do business with or in Israel.

Citing news reports, Bird accused MSCI of “participating in the antisemitic movement to boycott, divest, and sanction companies for doing business with Israel or because they are Israeli companies.”

“After the barbaric terror attacks on Oct. 7, it is more critical than ever that we support our allies in Israel and root out antisemitic hate,” Bird said in a statement. “MSCI’s silence when asked whether it is targeting companies for doing business in or with Israel is deafening. I am launching an investigation to get to the bottom of MSCI’s concerning practices and to prevent companies from polluting the corporate world with anti-Semitism.”

MSCI, in a statement to the Des Moines Register, denied the allegations.

“MSCI does not engage in or support in any way the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement in any of our business practices or product offerings,” according to the company’s statement. “Our products are free from political influence or other biases and do not incorporate any BDS considerations or penalize companies for operating in Israel or for contributing to Israel’s defense against terrorism.”