Bill Text: MO HB1758 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the Blue Alert System and the Blue Alert System Oversight Committee to assist in the identification and location of any person suspected of killing or seriously wounding a law enforcement officer
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-16 - Public Hearing Completed (H) [HB1758 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2010-HB1758-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RUCKER (Sponsor), ROORDA, LeVOTA, KUESSNER, TALBOY, AULL, MEINERS, BROWN (50), STORCH, CALLOWAY, CARTER, CHAPPELLE-NADAL, RUZICKA, SCAVUZZO, VOGT, CASEY, CURLS, JONES (117), DUSENBERG, LEARA AND PARSON (Co-sponsors).
4481L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 650, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to the blue alert system, with a penalty provision.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 650, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 650.500 and 650.502, to read as follows:
650.500. 1. There is hereby created a statewide program called the "Blue Alert System" referred to in this section as the "system" to aid in the identification, location and apprehension of any individual or individuals suspected of killing or seriously wounding any local, state, or federal law enforcement officer.
2. For the purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" means any public servant having both the power and duty to make arrests for violations of the laws of this state, and federal law enforcement officers authorized to carry firearms and to make arrests for violations of the laws of the United States.
3. The department of public safety shall develop regions to provide the system. The department of public safety shall coordinate local law enforcement agencies and public commercial television and radio broadcasters to provide an effective system. In the event that a local law enforcement agency opts not to set up a system and a killing or serious wounding of a law enforcement officer occurs within the jurisdiction, it shall notify the department of public safety who will notify local media in the region.
4. The blue alert system shall include all state agencies capable of providing urgent and timely information to the public together with broadcasters and other private entities that volunteer to participate in the dissemination of urgent public information. At a minimum, the blue alert system shall include the department of public safety, highway patrol, department of transportation, and Missouri lottery.
5. The department of public safety shall have the authority to notify other regions upon verification that the criteria established by the oversight committee has been met.
6. Participation in a blue alert system is entirely at the option of local law enforcement agencies and federally licensed radio and television broadcasters.
7. Any person who knowingly makes a false report that triggers an alert under this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
650.502. 1. There is hereby created the "Blue Alert System Oversight Committee", whose primary duty shall be to develop criteria and procedures for the blue alert system and shall be housed within the department of public safety. The committee shall regularly review the function of the blue alert system and revise its criteria and procedures in cooperation with the department of public safety to provide for efficient and effective public notification. As soon as practicable, the committee shall adopt criteria and procedures to expand the blue alert system to provide urgent public alerts related to homeland security, criminal acts, health emergencies, and other imminent dangers to the public health and welfare.
2. The blue alert system oversight committee shall consist of ten members of which seven members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Such members shall represent the following entities: two representatives of the Missouri Sheriffs' Association; two representatives of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association; one representative of small market radio broadcasters; one representative of large market radio broadcasters; one representative of television broadcasters. The director of the department of public safety shall also be a member of the committee and shall serve as chair of the committee. Additional members shall include two representatives of the highway patrol.
3. Members of the oversight committee shall serve a term of four years, except that members first appointed to the committee shall have staggered terms of two, three, and four years and shall serve until their successor is duly appointed and qualified.
4. Members of the oversight committee shall serve without compensation, except that members shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses required for the discharge of their duties.
5. The blue alert system oversight committee shall promulgate rules for the implementation of the blue alert system. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2010, shall be invalid and void.
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