State and Local Government
Government Code Chapter 3.1, §6207 requires state and local government agencies to allow an active Safe at Home program participant to present his or her authorization card and use his or her Safe at Home P.O. Box in lieu of his or her residence address on forms, in databases, and to receive mail.
State and local agencies work together to protect and assist victims with applying for and receiving services without compromising their confidential residential address information. Use of the Safe at Home P.O. Box also allows agencies to respond to public records requests without disclosing the confidential addresses of victims. The Secretary of State's office greatly appreciates the continued cooperation, sensitivity to victim needs, and ongoing information exchange we have with California's state and local government agencies.
Accepting the Safe at Home P. O. Box
- A state and local governmental agency shall accept the Safe at Home P.O. Box address, designated by the Secretary of State, of any active program participant who presents his or her authorization (ID card or certificate) at the time of creating, modifying or maintaining a public record which requires a street or mailing address. (per Government Code §6207, 6215.5)
- If state or local governmental agency forms require both a street address and a mailing address, we ask agencies to accept the participant's assigned Safe at Home post office box mailing address and ID number in lieu of the street and mailing address. Safe at Home will verify the participant's county of residence over the phone to an agency representative with written authorization from the participant.
- Agencies with a statutory and/or administrative requirement that requires a residence street address, which is confidential under Safe at Home, may require the participant to provide his or her residence address. The agency is required to use the residence address only for those statutory or administrative purposes, and may not publicly disseminate the address information provided. (Per Government Code §6207, 6215.5)
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Agency Exemption
- If a state or local governmental agency has a bona fide statutory or administrative requirement to use a Safe at Home participant’s actual physical residence address, which is confidential under Safe at Home, and the physical address will be used solely for those statutory or administrative purposes, and shall not be publicly disseminated, the agency may require the participant to provide his or her physical address. (per Government Code §6207, 6215.5) The Secretary of State may not make a program participant's address, other than the address designated by the Secretary of State, or a program participant's name change available for inspection or copying, unless it has been requested by a law enforcement agency to that agency or directed by a court order. (per Government Code §6208)
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Mailing to Safe at Home Participants
- Please include the participant’s four digit Safe at Home ID number (found on the authorization ID card) on the participant's mail.
- The ID number should appear adjacent to the participant’s last name or in the address line below the name on a piece of mail. This is important because Safe at Home P.O. Boxes are shared by many participants and the ID number serves to expedite the sorting and mail forwarding process.
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Safe at Home Participant Files
- If the residence address of a program participant is provided to fulfill a statutory or administrative requirement, this confidential information should be maintained in a confidential file, and should not be entered on any database or automated system.
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Verifying Enrollment
- The Safe at Home program will confirm the active participation and/or the county of residence of a participant with verbal or written authorization from the participant.
- The authorization must include his or her name, participant ID number, the name and title of the person authorized to receive the confirmation and their phone number.
- The authorization must be dated and signed by the participant.
- It can be faxed to Safe at Home at: (916) 653-7625 or mailed to: Safe at Home, P.O. Box 846, Sacramento, CA 95812.
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