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<br />RESOLUTION NO. 2005-024 <br /> <br />MJV 02-14-2005 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF <br />SANTA ANA APPROVING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SAFE <br />SURRENDER SITES PROGRAM AND REQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DESIGNATE ALL MUNICIPAL FIRE <br />STATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA JURISDICTION AS "SAFE- <br />SURRENDER SITES" FOR NEWBORNS <br /> <br />BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS <br />FOLLOWS: <br /> <br />Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby, finds, determines <br />and declares as follows: <br /> <br />A. California Health and Safety Code section 1255.7, known as the "Safe <br />Haven Law," was enacted in 2000 in response to widespread reports of babies being <br />abandoned in trash bins and restrooms, and on the highways, and being discovered <br />dead or in life-threatening medical and physical condition. <br /> <br />B. The "Safe Haven Law" encourages persons with custody of unwanted <br />newborn children to anonymously surrender the newborn so that it may receive <br />immediate medical attention. <br /> <br />C. According to the California Department of Social Services, in the first two <br />years that the "Safe Haven Law" was in effect, 20 babies were safely surrendered; but <br />88 babies were still illegally abandoned, 20 of whom died. <br /> <br />D. The "Safe Haven Law" provides that (a) a parent or person having lawful <br />custody of a child 72 hours old or younger, who delivers the child to a designated "Safe- <br />Surrender Site," would be immune from criminal prosecution, (b) a person accepting <br />custody of a newborn at a "Safe-Surrender Site" must notify the County Child Protective <br />Services Agency within 48 hours, and (c) permits the person surrendering a newborn to <br />anonymously provide medical information to the person accepting custody. <br /> <br />E. The "Safe Haven Law" defines a "Safe-Surrender Site" as a location <br />"designated by the board of supervisors of a county" to be responsible for accepting <br />physical custody of a newborn. <br /> <br />F. The Safe Haven Law provides immunity for the safe surrender site and the <br />personnel of the safe surrender site from civil, criminal, and administrative liability. <br /> <br />Resolution No. <br /> <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />55A-3 <br />