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<br />REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br /> <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br /> <br />FEBRUARY 22, 2005 <br /> <br />APPROVED <br /> <br />TITLE: <br /> <br />RESOLUTION FOR SAFE SURRENDER <br />SITE PROGRAM <br /> <br />o As Recommended <br />o As Amended <br />o Ordinance on 151 Reading <br />o Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />o Implementing Resolution <br />o Set Public Hearing For <br /> <br />- / <br />/ I i - <br />( ... I:. ./'7 ../)-.. <br />, ,~ <br />.-, ..-'/ . <br />(~:'Vl-'-_ v"'" J <J L ",~-- <br /> <br />CITY MANAGER <br /> <br />CONTINUED TO <br /> <br />FILE NUMBER <br /> <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br /> <br />Adopt a resolution requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors to <br />include all fire stations within the City of Santa Ana as designated safe <br />surrender sites for newborns. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />Since 1999, over 40 states have passed legislation designating safe <br />surrender conditions for parents to relinquish infants they are unable to <br />care for. The California Safely Surrendered Baby Law, also known as the <br />Safe Haven Law or Newborn Abandonment Law, went into effect on January 1, <br />2001. The purpose of the law is to protect babies from being hurt or killed <br />when they are abandoned in unsafe areas, such as trash bins or dumpsters. <br />Current State law allows a parent or legal guardian to anonymously <br />surrender an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency <br />room or other site designated by the County Board of Supervisors. <br /> <br />Each County Board of Supervisors designates the safe surrender sites within <br />their jurisdiction. To date, the Orange County Board of Supervisors has <br />designated Orangewood Children's Home and all hospital emergency rooms. <br />The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, however, has included all <br />county and municipal fire stations as safe surrender sites. Information <br />generated by radio and print media originating in Los Angeles may create <br />confusion for Orange County residents by announcing that all fire stations <br />are safe surrender sites. Orange County fire officials are now concerned <br />that infants may be abandoned at Orange County fire stations. In order to <br />ensure the safety of newborns, it is important that the Orange County Board <br />of Supervisors designate all municipal and county fire stations are safe <br /> <br />55A-1 <br />