Safe Surrender of Newborn Babies
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA DESIGNATING SAFE SURRENDER
SITES AT SPECIFIED FIRE STATIONS LOCATED IN THE CITIES OF
CAMPBELL, GILROY, LOS GATOS,
AND THE SOUTH SANTA CLARA COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors ofthe County of Santa Clara is concerned with
the occurrence of newborn infants being abandoned in Santa Clara County; and
WHEREAS, the State of Cali fomi a enacted Health and Safety Code section 1255.7 and
Penal Code section 271.5, the Newborn Abandonment Law. also referred to as the "Safelv
, .
Surrendered Baby" law, that provides that no parent or other person having lawful custody of a
newborn 72 hours old or younger maybe prosecuted for child abandonment ifhe or she
voluntarily surrenders physical custody ofthe child to any employee on duty at a public or private
hospital emergency room, or any other Safe Surrender site designated by the Board of
Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, on August 3, 2004, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution
designating Santa Clara County Central Protection Fire District owned fire stations as Safe
Surrender Sites; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors collaborated with the Cities of Campbell and
Gilroy, the Town of Los Gatos, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the
South Santa Clara County Fire District to include city-owned, district-owned, and state-owned
fire stations as Safe Surrender Sites; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager of the City of Campbell, the City Administrator of the
City of Gilroy, the Town Council of the Town ofLes Gatos, and the Board of Commissioners of
the South Santa Clara County Fire District Board has detennined the feasibility of implementing
SafeBurrender sites at specified city-owned, district~owned and state-owned fire stations in the
cities of Campbell and Gilroy, the Tmvn of Los Gatos, and in the South Santa Clara County Fire
District upon adoption of this resolution will comply with the requirements of a designated Safe
Surrender site pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1255.7; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors hereby finds and declares this resolution be
adopted pursuant to the powers granted by law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County
of Santa Clara, State of California:
1. Fire stations owned by the City of Campbell are hereby designated Safe Surrender
sites. The Board of Supervisors requests that the Santa Clara County Fire Chief ensure that the
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~lE18 @ 8 2005
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employees of each fire station Safe Surrender site are trained to take physical custody of a
surrendered newborn in compliance with Health and Safety Code section 1255.7.
2. Fire stations owned by the City of Gilroy are hereby designated Safe Surrender
sites, and the Board of Supervisors requests that the City Administrator or Fire Chief ensure that
the employees of each fire station Safe Surrender site are trained to take physical custody of a
surrendered,newborn in compliance with Health and Safety Code section 1255.7.
3. Fire stations owned by the Town of Los Gatos are hereby designated Safe
Surrender sites, and the Board of Supervisors requests that the Santa Clara County Fire Chief
ensure that the employees of each fire station Safe Surrender site are trained to take physical
custody of a surrendered newborn in compliance with Health and Safety Code section 1255.7.
4. Fire stations 1,2, and 3 owned by the South Santa Clara County Fire District are
hereby designated Safe Surrender sites, and the Board of Supervisors requests that the South
Santa Clara County Fire Chief ensure that the employees of each fire station Safe Surrender site
are trained to take physical custody of a surrendered newborn in compliance with Health and
Safety Code section 1255.7. .
5. Fire stations owned by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
located within the County of Santa Clara are hereby designated Safe Surrender sites, and the
Board of Supervisors requests that the South Santa Clara County Fire Chief ensure that the
employees of each fire station Safe Surrender site are trained to take physical custody of a
surrendered newborn in compliance with Health and Safety Code section 1255.7.
6. Each designated fire station Safe Surrender site is hereby requested to post signs
utilizing the statewide logo that has been adopted by the State Department of Social Services.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara,
State of California on February 8, 2005 by the following vote:
AYES: ALVARADO, BEALL, GAGE, KNISS, 1<!CHUGH
NOES: mOm'E
ABSENT: i. JiOllE
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Boar
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ATT~~
PHYLLIS A. PEREZ, Clerk, Board of Supervisors
An~ Sloan The foregoing instrument is a
ChIef Deputy Clerk "" tl.. ',. .
of the Board of correct copy 01 U 10 ~.n0tnal
Supervisors t\TTEST: .iiJ PCr:9Z
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qate: FEB 1 4 2005
Approved 88 to Form and legality
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Deputy County Counsel
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