- Introduced -

SB 30 - This act creates a statewide alert system to be activated in the event a person is abducted.

STATEWIDE AMBER ALERT SYSTEM - The Department of Public Safety (DPS) shall develop a program whereby the state will be divided into regions. These regions are a coordinated effort between local law enforcement agencies and local media within the region. If a local entity does not have an alert system in place, DPS will notify local media in their region, who by prearranged plan will issue an alert.

In the event that there is credible evidence that an abduction suspect has traveled or is traveling out of one AMBER jurisdiction, DPS will coordinate the activation of other AMBER Alerts in the vicinity where the abductor is thought to be heading.

EXISTING LOCAL PROGRAMS - Currently existing AMBER programs operating as of the effective date of this bill will be exempted. This will give local jurisdictions about a year to develop their own programs.

Local programs coming online after the effective date of the law will need to conform with the following standards: (a) will only be activated in cases where there is a credible threat of serious bodily injury or death; (b) will not be activated in custodial disputes unless there is the credible threat of serious bodily injury or death; and (c) there are sufficient details as to the abduction as to make the activation of the system useful.

Participation in an AMBER Alert Program is entirely at the option of the local law enforcement agency.

SARAH MORROW