First Substitute H.B. 277

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MCGRUFF HOUSE PROGRAM
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Trisha S. Beck
5 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS IN GENERAL; ESTABLISHING THE
6 "MCGRUFF HOUSE PROGRAM" AS THE RECOGNIZED "SAFE HOUSE" PROGRAM
7 IN UTAH FOR CHILDREN; PROVIDING FOR REGISTRATION AND TRAINING
8 REQUIREMENTS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 ENACTS:
11 63-93-1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
12 63-93-2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
13 63-93-3, Utah Code Annotated 1953
14 63-93-4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
15 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
16 Section 1. Section 63-93-1 is enacted to read:
17 CHAPTER 93. MCGRUFF SAFE HOUSE ACT
18 63-93-1. Title.
19 This act is known as the "McGruff Safe House" Act.
20 Section 2. Section 63-93-2 is enacted to read:
21 63-93-2. Purpose.
22 (1) The Legislature recognizes that children are often in dangerous situations that may be
23 threatening or frightening to them and that there is a need for "safe homes" in our neighborhoods
24 where a child may go for help.
25 (2) The Legislature also recognizes that along with the need for "safe homes" that children
26 can recognize easily, there is needed a method by which these homes can be identified.
27 (3) The purpose of this act is to:

1 (a) provide and designate a recognizable symbol for those "safe homes" that children can
2 readily identify; and
3 (b) establish a method by which local law enforcement agencies can identify and train
4 volunteers who are willing to make their homes "safe homes".
5 Section 3. Section 63-93-3 is enacted to read:
6 63-93-3. Designation -- Administration.
7 (1) The National McGruff House Network Program is hereby designated as the officially
8 recognized statewide "safe house" program for Utah.
9 (2) The program shall be administered through the Department of Public Safety by the
10 Utah Council for Crime Prevention.
11 Section 4. Section 63-93-4 is enacted to read:
12 63-93-4. Program requirements.
13 (1) The statewide program administrator shall:
14 (a) provide support and training upon request to local law enforcement agencies interested
15 in implementing the program in their area;
16 (b) provide local programs with signs for display in approved "safe homes"; and
17 (c) maintain a register of all "safe homes" that includes, at a minimum, the address of the
18 home and the names of all persons living in the home.
19 (2) The local program shall:
20 (a) recruit volunteer "safe homes" in neighborhoods with the help of local community
21 groups;
22 (b) provide training and education to volunteers regarding the program and its use;
23 (c) provide for an application process for volunteers;
24 (d) conduct criminal history background checks on volunteers and members of their
25 households;
26 (e) approve or disapprove applications for "safe homes";
27 (f) provide education through community programs for parents and children on the
28 program and the proper use of "safe homes";
29 (g) provide approved "safe homes" with signs for display;
30 (h) provide procedures by which a "safe home" may be removed from the register; and
31 (i) provide for a method of renewal of the "safe home" designation in order to keep the

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1 registry current and provide for the periodic review of the "safe home," the volunteer, and all
2 members of the household.
3 Section 5. Effective date.
4 This act takes effect on July 1, 1997.

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