A bill allowing public schools to offer information on the state’s “safe haven” law regarding unwanted newborns has won preliminary approval from the Colorado state Senate.

Senate Bill 25 was approved despite having been tangled up in an issue over sex education.

Republican Sen. Jim Smallwood of Parker sponsors SB 25, which as introduced would have included information about the safe haven law in the comprehensive sex ed curriculum offered in many of Colorado’s public schools.

The safe haven law, in place since 2000, allows a parent of an unwanted newborn 72 hours old or less to relinquish custody of that baby to an employee of a fire station or hospital, with no questions asked and no legal penalty. 

Smallwood’s bill got tangled up with a House bill on the sex ed curriculum two weeks ago. That’s when the chair of the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, Sen. Mike Foote of Lafayette, added an amendment that said Smallwood’s bill would pass only if the sex ed bill failed.

That drew howls of outrage from Republicans  and Foote backed off last week. 

The Senate on Tuesday, at Smallwood’s request, added an amendment that said if the safe haven information is presented in one curriculum area — such as a part of general health education, for example — then it would not need to be taught in another area, such as comprehensive sex education.

Both curriculums are voluntary and are not mandated by the state, and that wouldn’t change under either measure.

The bill updating the state’s sex ed curriculum, House Bill 1032, is up for its first hearing in the House Health and Insurance Committee on Thursday, and its sponsor, Democratic Rep. Susan Lontine of Denver, has said she will ask that safe haven information be included.

The Senate is expected to give its formal approval to Senate Bill 25 on Wednesday.