Bill Text: NJ A1755 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Silver Alert System receive same broadcast alerts as Amber Alert System.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-02 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A1755 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A1755-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE CHAPARRO
District 33 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen DeAngelo, Benson, Danielsen, Assemblywomen Murphy, Jimenez and Lopez
SYNOPSIS
Requires Silver Alert System receive same broadcast alerts as Amber Alert System.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the "Silver Alert System" and amending P.L.2009, c.167.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.2009, c.167 (C.52:17B-194.6) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. The Missing Persons [and Child Exploitation] Unit in the Division of State Police, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, shall develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information on a missing person meeting the criteria set forth in section 2 of P.L.2009, c.167 (C.52:17B-194.5) when information is available that would enable motorists to assist in the recovery of the missing person.
b. The Missing Persons [and Child Exploitation] Unit and the Department of Transportation shall develop guidelines for the content, length, and frequency of any message to be placed on the overhead permanent changeable message sign.
c. The procedure and guidelines required in subsections a. and b. of this section shall provide at a minimum that:
(1) overhead permanent changeable message signs may be activated only if accurate motor vehicle information is available and it is confirmed that the person was driving the motor vehicle at the time of the disappearance; and
(2) the lead law enforcement agency, upon determining that a Silver Alert is warranted, shall contact the Intelligence Watch [Operations] and Warning Unit in the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center, which shall contact the Department of Transportation for activation of highway signs.
d. The participating media [may] shall [voluntarily agree], upon notice of the issuance of a Silver Alert, [to] inform the public of a person believed to be missing within their service regions. The notice shall be provided through the lead law enforcement agency. The alert shall be read after a distinctive sound tone and the statement: "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert." The alert shall be broadcast as often as possible, pursuant to the guidelines established by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association, for the first three hours. After the first three hours, the alert shall be rebroadcast at those intervals the lead law enforcement agency and the participating media deem appropriate.
e. The alerts shall terminate upon notice from the lead law enforcement agency.
f. The alerts shall include a description of the missing person and [such] any other information as the lead law enforcement agency may deem pertinent and appropriate. The lead law enforcement agency shall, in a timely manner, update the media with new information regarding the missing person when appropriate.
g. The alerts also shall provide information concerning how those members of the public who have information relating to the missing person may contact the lead law enforcement agency or the Missing Persons [and Child Exploitation] Unit in the Division of State Police.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.167, s.3)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires media outlets that participate in the "Silver Alert System" to issue the same broadcast alerts used when an "Amber Alert" is initiated following a child's abduction.
The "Silver Alert System" is a Statewide program for the dissemination of information regarding a missing person believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment. Under current law, the program is a cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and print, radio, and television media outlets.
This bill requires participating media outlets, when responding to a "Silver Alert," to broadcast a distinctive sound tone and the statement: "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert." The alert is to include a description of the missing person and other information the enforcement agency deems appropriate. In addition, the alert is to be broadcast as often as possible for the first three hours that a "Silver Alert" is in progress. After the initial three hours, the alerts are to be rebroadcast at intervals that the lead law enforcement agency and participating media deem appropriate.
