The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 13 to adopt a resolution designating Madera Community Hospital as a safe‑surrender site.

CAO Matt Trever told the board the designation clarifies which facility the county recognizes as a safe‑surrender location and avoids confusion if an identified hospital closes and later reopens. Trever cited Health and Safety Code §1255.7 when a supervisor asked whether the designation was required by state law: "Correct ... under Health and Safety Code 1255.7, it does require the board and entity to identify businesses," he said.

Why it matters: safe‑surrender laws allow a parent to relinquish an infant at a designated safe site—typically a hospital—without facing criminal penalties; identifying a specific local facility ensures continuity for families and first responders.

Public comment: Wayne Hart, a registered nurse at Madera Community Hospital, told the board the hospital reopened in March and is pursuing the formal designation. The chair offered to speak with hospital staff after the meeting to confirm details.

Board action: after public comment the board moved, seconded, and approved the resolution on a roll call vote recorded as 5‑0.

What the record does not include: the adopted resolution text and any operational procedures for receiving infants are in the staff packet but not described in detail in the public comments recorded in the transcript. The board and staff indicated readiness to work with hospital representatives to finalize operations.

Provenance: CAO presentation and board vote recorded on the meeting transcript.