HLS 10RS-3603 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 159
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLMOTT AND SENATOR THOMPSON AND
REPRESENTATIVES KATZ, ABRAMSON, BARROW, BURFORD, DOERGE,
HILL, HINES, MICHAEL JACKSON, JOHNSON, LABRUZZO, LEBAS, MILLS,
NOWLIN, POPE, AND SIMON
SOCIAL SERVICES DEPT: Commends the Dept. of Social Services on receiving a
national bronze Telly Award for the department's public service television
commercial to raise awareness of the Safe Haven Law of this state
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend the Department of Social Services on receiving a national bronze 2010 Telly2
Award for the department's public service television commercial to raise awareness3
of the Safe Haven Law of this state.4
WHEREAS, all states currently have laws in place to allow an unharmed infant to5
be relinquished to the proper authorities; and6
WHEREAS, these laws and the programs provided for therein are known collectively7
as "Safe Haven"; and8
WHEREAS, Act No. 609 of the 2003 Regular Session of the Legislature created the9
Safe Haven program of this state; and10
WHEREAS, the Safe Haven Law of this state provides a mechanism whereby any11
parent may relinquish the care of an infant less than thirty-one-days old to a designated12
emergency care facility, otherwise known as a Safe Haven relinquishment site, in safety,13
anonymity, and without fear of prosecution; and14
WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services, hereafter referred to as15
"department", carries out vital functions of Safe Haven such as initiating proceedings to free16
relinquished infants for adoption, creating Safe Haven training information for use in17
designated emergency care facilities, and providing information to the public on the Safe18
Haven Law; and19 HLS 10RS-3603 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 159
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, it is widely affirmed among child protection professionals and1
concerned citizens of this state that greater public awareness of Safe Havens can prevent2
tragic incidents of infant abandonment and death; and3
WHEREAS, the department of its own initiative in 2009 coordinated existing4
resources to conduct a multifaceted public information campaign on Safe Haven which5
included two public service television commercials that aired statewide; and6
WHEREAS, in the six years of existence of Safe Havens in Louisiana, over one-third7
of all newborn relinquishments to Safe Haven sites have occurred since the commencement8
of the department's 2009 public information campaign; and9
WHEREAS, in April 2010, the department was awarded a national bronze Telly10
Award for one of the Safe Haven public service television commercials; and11
WHEREAS, the Telly Award was founded in 1978 and is the premier award12
honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, with13
past winners including the Public Broadcasting Service, NFL Films, NBC Universal, the14
Weather Channel, and Harpo Productions; and15
WHEREAS, the department has created a stand-alone website for the Safe Haven16
campaign, www.louisianasafehaven.com, on which the award-winning commercial and other17
informational material can be viewed; and18
WHEREAS, through many programs and services, the department has shown19
remarkable leadership in promoting the safety of children as exemplified by the Safe Haven20
public information campaign.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby22
commend the Department of Social Services for being awarded a national bronze 2010 Telly23
Award for the department's public service television commercial to raise awareness of the24
Safe Haven Law.25
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana encourages26
television stations in this state to continue airing the Safe Haven commercials as public27
service announcements.28
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted29
to the secretary of the Department of Social Services.30 HLS 10RS-3603 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 159
Page 3 of 3
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Willmott HCR No. 159
Commends DSS for being awarded a national bronze 2010 Telly Award for the department's
public service television commercial to raise awareness of the Safe Haven Law.