SR-700-015
City Council Meeting: August 9, 2005 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Resolution Ratifying Santa Monica Fire Stations as Safe Surrender Sites
Introduction
This report requests the City Council to adopt a resolution ratifying Santa Monica Fire
Stations as Safe Surrender Sites in compliance with the California Safely Surrendered
Baby Law, as amended by the County of Los Angeles.
Background
The Safely Surrendered Law (SB 1368), also known as the Safe Haven Law or the
Newborn Abandonment Law was signed into law by Governor Davis in September
2000, and went into effect on January 1, 2001. On August 27, 2002, the Los Angeles
County Board of Supervisors adopted a Resolution designating all Los Angeles County
Fire Stations as Safe Haven Sites. Since the adoption of the resolution in 2002, 34
newborns have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County. Of those, 11 have
been at fire stations. During the same period, 31 newborns have been abandoned, with
24 not surviving.
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The California Safely Surrendered Law allows an individual to give up an unwanted
infant with no fear of arrest or prosecution for abandonment as long as the baby has not
been abused or neglected. The law does not require that names be given when the
baby is surrendered. Parents are permitted to bring a baby within three days of birth to
any hospital emergency room or other designated safe surrender site in California. The
baby will be placed in a foster or pre-adoptive home.
Discussion
This program is a powerful vehicle to save infants? lives. Designating Santa Monica Fire
Stations as Safe Surrender Sites will ensure more safe sites are available for these
babies.
The Risk Manager has reviewed the California Safely Surrendered Baby Law and finds
no additional liability for the City should they authorize participating in this program.
Santa Monica Fire Department personnel received the required training in July 2005
and the Safe Surrender Site information packets are in place at each Fire Station.
Small aluminum signs (18? x 20?) displaying the approved Safe Surrender Site logo are
required to be installed on all approved Safe Surrender Site locations. The signs have
been obtained and will be installed once the resolution is ratified and formal
authorization obtained through the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Budget/Financial Impact
The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or fiscal impact.
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Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council adopt the accompanying resolution ratifying Santa
Monica Fire Stations as Safe Surrender Sites in compliance with the California Safely
Surrendered Baby Law, as amended by the County of Los Angeles.
Prepared by: Jim Hone, Fire Chief
Bruce Davis, Deputy Fire Chief
Jodi Nevandro, EMS Educator
See Adopted Resolution No. 10061 (CCS).
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