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AI# 12290  Regular City Council Meeting 6.2. 02/13/2024:

Information

Agenda Item

Resolution - City Manager: Consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Lease and Service Agreement, Contract 17905, and all related documents, by and between the City of Lubbock and Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc., for a device to enable the safe surrender of infants.

Item Summary

The State of Texas has long had a law known as the Baby Moses law that allowed individuals to bring their baby to certain designated locations such as a hospital, fire station free-standing emergency center of emergency medical services station and leave the infant with an employee.  In doing so, the baby is provided appropriate care and the individual will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect.  In the most recent legislative session, the State enhanced the law through the Safe Haven Law, which provides an additional alternative to surrendering the baby in person.  Now, a baby can be surrendered through a ‘baby box’ device that allows this to happen safely and anonymously.  The Baby Box is a fully enclosed, monitored and alarmed device installed in an exterior wall of an appropriate location, such as a fire station.   Lubbock Fire Rescue, the Lubbock Professional Fire Fighters Association, local partners, and Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc., have worked diligently over the last several months to secure and install the first ever baby box in Lubbock, at Fire Station 9, 4814 50th Street.  While there are costs associated with the purchase, installation and ongoing operations of these devices, our local partners have secured the funding necessary to acquire, install and cover the costs for this potentially life-saving device for our community.  Costs to the City are minimal, primarily the cost of adding the device to the existing monitoring and alert system.  We believe that this will be only the third Safe Haven Baby Box installation in Texas since the law changed, with the first being at Coryell Hospital and the second set in San Antonio.  Earlier this week, a baby was successfully surrendered to a baby box in Belen, NM.  The press release is also attached.     Lubbock Fire Rescue, Lubbock Professional Fire Fighters Association and our local partners will be in attendance to present and discuss this item.

Fiscal Impact

As noted in the Item Summary

Staff/Board Recommending

Lubbock Fire Rescue City Management

Attachments Resolution - Safe Haven Baby Boxes Lease Agreement - Baby Box Press Release Link - Safe Haven Baby Box

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