Expanding alerts for missing adults to include certain missing children. (FE)

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

The Department of Justice currently administers several alert systems, under which DOJ works with law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, and others to disseminate information regarding certain cases involving endangered children, missing adults at risk, and veterans at risk. These alerts are commonly known respectively as Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts, or Green Alerts.

Under current law, the Silver Alert applies to a missing person who is at least 18 if the person has a developmental disability or suffers from dementia, or who could, without access to medication, suffer from cognitive impairment that would likely render the adult incapable of getting to a familiar location alone. This bill expands the Silver Alert to include children if the situation is not covered by the Amber Alert, which requires a reasonable belief by law enforcement that the child was abducted and is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death and that if sufficient information is shared with the public, the alert will assist in finding the child. Under this bill, a Silver Alert could be issued for a missing person under 18 to whom an Amber Alert does not apply if the person is believed to be incapable of returning home without assistance due to a physical or mental condition or disability or if the person is under 10.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its authors⁠. 3 are Democrats and 2 are Republicans.

27 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DOJ