H.B. 277 Enrolled

MCGRUFF HOUSE PROGRAM
1997 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Trisha S. Beck
AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS IN GENERAL; ESTABLISHING THE
"MCGRUFF HOUSE PROGRAM" AS THE RECOGNIZED "SAFE HOUSE"
PROGRAM IN UTAH FOR CHILDREN; PROVIDING FOR REGISTRATION AND
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
ENACTS:
63-93-1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63-93-2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63-93-3, Utah Code Annotated 1953
63-93-4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 63-93-1 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 93. MCGRUFF SAFE HOUSE ACT
63-93-1. Title.
This act is known as the "McGruff Safe House" Act.
Section 2. Section 63-93-2 is enacted to read:
63-93-2. 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 act is to:
(a) provide and designate a recognizable symbol for those "safe homes" that children can
readily identify; and

(b) establish a method by which local law enforcement agencies can identify and train
volunteers who are willing to make their homes "safe homes".
Section 3. Section 63-93-3 is enacted to read:
63-93-3. 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.
Section 4. Section 63-93-4 is enacted to read:
63-93-4. Program requirements.
(1) The statewide program administrator shall:
(a) provide support and training upon request to local law enforcement agencies interested
in implementing the program in their area;
(b) provide local programs with signs for display in approved "safe homes"; and
(c) maintain 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:
(a) recruit volunteer "safe homes" in neighborhoods with the help of local community
groups;
(b) provide training and education to volunteers regarding the program and its use;
(c) provide for an application process for volunteers;
(d) conduct criminal history background checks on volunteers and members of their
households;
(e) approve or disapprove applications for "safe homes";
(f) provide education through community programs for parents and children on the
program and the proper use of "safe homes";
(g) provide approved "safe homes" with signs for display;
(h) provide procedures by which a "safe home" may be removed from the register; and

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(i) provide 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.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act takes effect on July 1, 1997.

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