AgdaPkt 2005-01-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5.3 B-} REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager January 24, 2005 Subject Resolution authorizing the City Manager to allow the City to participate in the County of San Mateo Safe Haven program by designating City Fire Stations as Safe Haven Sites for newborn infants. . Recommendation Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to allow the City to participate in the County of San Mateo Safe Haven program by designating City Fire Stations as "Safe Haven" sites for the surrender of newborn infants pursuant to State of California Health and Safety Code section 1255.7 (Attachment 1) and to execute any agreements implementing same. Background The Safely Surrendered Baby Law (also known as the Safe Haven Law or Newborn Abandonment Law) was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis in September, 2000, and went into effect on January 1, 2001. "Safe Havens" are a part of a statewide effort to end the tragic consequences of infant abandonment. Since the law was enacted, 61 infants have been safely surrendered in California.1 The law, as defined, allows a parent or legal guardian to safely surrender an infant three days old or younger to any designated Safe Surrender site such as a hospital emergency room or fire station. Requests for confidentially will be respected and the person may surrender the infant without fear of arrest or prosecution for reckless child abandonment, provided that the infant has not been abused or neglected. An amendment to the 2001 law (2003 SB 139, Brulte) was passed on August 1, 2003, to strengthen the existing legislation by expanding the criteria for safe surrender personnel authorized to accept physical custody of an infant to "any personnel on duty at a safe surrender site" as opposed to "designated staff'. Other provisions in the amendment include requirements for: Safe surrender sites to post uniform signage; Notification of child protective services as soon as possible after an infant has been surrendered; Protection of the confidentiality of the parent who surrenders a child; Information regarding the surrendered infant provided to the California Missing Children Clearinghouse and National Crime Information Center; Clarification that possession of the identification bracelet does not establish parentage or a right to custody of the child. 1 This number was current as of November, 2004. The statistic was taken from the program proposal letter issued by the County of San Mateo Health Services Department on November 8. 2004.