53-15 - Mcgruff Safe House Act
Title 53 > 53-15
Sections (4)
General Provisions
53-15-101 - Title.
This chapter is known as the “McGruff Safe House Act.”
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 382, 2008 General Session
53-15-102 - Purpose.
(1) The Legislature recognizes that children are often in dangerous situations that may be threatening or frightening to them and that there is a need for “safe homes” in our neighborhoods where a child may go for help.
(2) The Legislature also recognizes that along with the need for “safe homes” that children can recognize easily, there is needed a method by which these homes can be identified.
(3) The purpose of this chapter is to: provide and designate a recognizable symbol for those “safe homes” that children can readily identify; andestablish a method by which local law enforcement agencies can identify and train volunteers who are willing to make their homes “safe homes”.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 382, 2008 General Session
Mcgruff House Network Program
53-15-201 - Designation — Administration.
(1) The National McGruff House Network Program is hereby designated as the officially recognized statewide “safe house” program for Utah.
(2) The program shall be administered through the Department of Public Safety by the Utah Council for Crime Prevention.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 382, 2008 General Session
53-15-202 - Program requirements.
(1) The statewide program administrator shall: provide support and training upon request to local law enforcement agencies interested in implementing the program in their area;provide local programs with signs for display in approved “safe homes”; andmaintain a register of all “safe homes” that includes, at a minimum, the address of the home and the names of all persons living in the home.
(2) The local program shall: recruit volunteer “safe homes” in neighborhoods with the help of local community groups;provide training and education to volunteers regarding the program and its use;provide for an application process for volunteers;conduct criminal history background checks on volunteers and members of their households;approve or disapprove applications for “safe homes”;provide education through community programs for parents and children on the program and the proper use of “safe homes”;provide approved “safe homes” with signs for display;provide procedures by which a “safe home” may be removed from the register; andprovide for a method of renewal of the “safe home” designation in order to keep the registry current and provide for the periodic review of the “safe home”, the volunteer, and all members of the household.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 382, 2008 General Session