(a)  Whoever assumes the custody of a living infant of unknown parentage shall report on a form and in the manner prescribed by the state registrar of vital records within four (4) days to the local registrar of the city or town in which the child was found, the following information:

(1)  The date and place of finding;

(2)  Sex, color or race, and approximate age of child;

(3)  Name and address of the persons or institution with whom the child has been placed for care;

(4)  Name given to the child by the custodian; and

(5)  Other data required by the state registrar of vital records.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-3-11

  • Institution: means any establishment, public or private, that provides in-patient medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment, or nursing, custodial or domiciliary care to two (2) or more unrelated individuals, or to which persons are committed by law. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-3-1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • Vital records: means records of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, and data related to those records. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-3-1

(b)  The place where the child was found shall be entered as the place of birth and the date of birth shall be determined by approximation.

(c)  A report registered under this section shall constitute the certificate of birth for the infant.

(d)  If the child is identified and a certificate of birth is found or obtained, any report registered under this section shall be sealed and filed and may be opened only by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by regulation.

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 268, § 26; P.L. 1948, ch. 2042, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-3-7; G.L. 1956, § 23-3-11; P.L. 1961, ch. 87, § 1.