HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdopt the "Safely Surrendered Baby" Program�- N
CITY OF PALM DESERT
Office of the Assistant City Manager
Community Services Division
Staff Report
REQUEST: Request for Approval of Public Safety Commission Recommendation
to Adopt the "Safely Surrendered Baby" Program
SUBMITTED BY: Sheila R. Gilligan, ACM/Community Services
DATE: May 12, 2005
CONTENTS 1. Report from County Fire Chief Craig Anthony dated March 28, 2005
2. Preliminary Minutes of April 13, 2005, Public Safety Commission
Meeting
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, approve the recommendation of the Public Safety Commission and adopt the
"Safely Surrendered Baby" program.
Discussion:
The Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows a parent or person with lawful custody of an infant to
surrender the infant confidentially, at a hospital or other designated site such as a fire station,
without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment. This law allows for a 14-day cooling
off period, which begins the day the infant is voluntarily surrendered. During this period, the person
who surrendered the infant can return to the hospital to reclaim the infant.
At its meeting of April 13, 2005, the Public Safety Commission received a report and
recommendation relative to the subject program. County Fire Chief Craig Anthony was present and
provided information in support, noting that adoption of the program would require no additional
personnel costs.
The Public Safety Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt the
"Safely Surrendered Baby" program.
—fit, ACM/Community Services
Approval:
CARLL4S . ORT V A
City Manager
Riverside County Fire Department
/
yi
COUNTY FIRE MEMORANDUM
To: Carlos Ortega
City Manager,
City of Palm Desert
From: Craig Anthony, County Fire Chief
Riverside County Fire Department
Date: 03/28/05
Subject: Adopt the Safely Surrender Baby program (Newborn Abandonment law,
SB1386)
Infant abandonment is an event that does not occur very often, but when it does, if often
results in serious injury or death. In 2000, the Califomia Legislature passed SB1368,
the Safely Surrender Baby program. The purpose of the law is to encourage parents to
bring their infants, up to three days old, to reception centers such as fire stations, rather
than abandon them in dumpsters or bushes. No names are required and the parent(s)
will not be subject to prosecution for child abandonment. The baby will receive needed
medical treatment and be placed in an adoptive home.
Palm Desert has stations geographically located in the community where it would be
easy for a parent to transfer the infant to fire department personnel rather than
abandoning the infant in a dumpster or other location. City fire stations are community
centers that are trusted by local residents. City fire fighters are trained Emergency
Medical Technicians or Paramedics, which provides immediate medical attention and
will help with care of the abandoned infant. This Program is truly a community based,
life saving opportunity for infants.
Adopting the Program will require no additional personnel costs. Both the Riverside
County Sheriff and Child Protective Services fully support the Riverside County Fire
Department adopting this Program.
On Tuesday, March 15, 2005 the Riverside County Board of Supervisor's authorized the
Riverside County Fire Department to adopt this program. We would like to request your
approval to adopt this program in the city of Palm Desert.
Sincerely,
IGNACIO OTERO
Division Chief
10: jw
PRELIMINARY MINUTES
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION APRIL 13, 2005
G. Consideration of "Safely Surrendered Baby" Program (Item H)
Chief Anthony reviewed the staff report, noting that adoption of the
program would require no additional personnel costs.
Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, support the recommendation
from the Fire and Police Departments and recommend that the City Council adopt the
"Safely Surrendered Baby" Program. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Kirkwood
and carried by a 5-0 vote.
H. Request for Ratification of City of Palm Desert Public Safety Goals for
Fiscal Year 2005/06 (Item 1-J)
Mrs. Gilligan noted that this request had come from the Public Safety
Committee of CVAG. She said because the deadline for submittal of
the City's goals was prior to the Commission's meeting, she had taken
the liberty of asking Lt. Thetford to complete the form, which had then
been forwarded to CVAG. She asked that the Commission ratify the
goals as submitted by Lt. Thetford. She noted that if the Commission
chose to add to, delete, or reprioritize the goals, a letter could be sent
to CVAG advising of same.
Ms. Scully agreed but said any such letter would be put on the CVAG
agenda as an information item for the record.
Commissioner Nethery moved to, by Minute Motion, ratify the City of Palm Desert
Public Safety Goals for Fiscal Year 2005/06 as submitted by the Police Chief and authorize
staff to send a letter to CVAG advising of the Commission's ratification.
With Commission concurrence, staff was directed to include a copy of the CVAG
letter in the Agenda packet for the next meeting.
I. Consideration of AB1127 Relative to Establishment of Conference
Call Courts (Item K)
Ms. Scully reviewed the staff report, noting that Mrs. Gilligan had met
with Lt. Thetford, whose concern was that no time would be saved by
having his deputies attend such a court in Palm Springs or Indio;
however, if it was possible to have a conference call court in Palm
Desert, he would be in favor. She noted that CVAG Executive
Director John Wohlmuth had agreed to allow use of a conference
room for a conference call court, but his concerns were: 1)
scheduling; 2) do the deputies have to be in the room alone? 3) are
there security requirements? She said these were issues that would
have to be addressed through the language of the bill.
7