ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: JUD DP 9-0-0-0 | 3rd Read DPA 58-0-2-0

Senate: PS DPA 6-0-1-0 | 3rd Read DPA 29-0-1-0
Final Read: 55-0-5-0 | Chapter: 175

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2894: silver alert; criteria; notification

NOW: safe alert; notifications; criteria

Sponsor: Representative Powell, LD 14

Signed by the Governor

Overview

Renames the Silver Alert System to the Seek and Find Alert System. Expands qualifying Seek and Find system criteria, to require immediate issuance of an alert for missing persons and mandates law enforcement agencies provide training for law enforcement employees.

History

The Silver Alert notification system is operated by The Department of Public Safety (DPS) and disseminate alerts for missing persons who are either 65 years or older or who have a developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease or dementia. law enforcement agencies can request a Silver Alert if they have exhausted local resources, determined that the person is missing under suspicious or unexplained circumstances, and believe the individual is in danger due to age, health, disability, environmental factors or potential threats (A.R.S. § 41-1728).

A developmental disability is a severe condition manifesting before the age of 18 that is likely to persist indefinitely. It includes cognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, down syndrome or autism and it must result in significant limitations to major life activities such as self-care, communication or mobility (A.R.S. § 36-551).

DPS issues an AMBER Alert if a child under the age of 18 disappears, and law enforcement confirms that the child has been abducted, is not a runaway or part of a custody dispute and the abduction poses a serious threat (DPS, Amber Alerts).

Provisions

1.   Renames the Silver Alert System to the Seek and Find Alert System. (Sec. 1)

2.   Adds cognitive disability, to the list of disabilities that could activate a Seek and Find alert notification. (Sec. 1)

3.   Requires the department to issue a Seek and Find alert immediately for any missing person that fits the statute's Seek and Find alert criteria. (Sec. 1)

4.   Prohibits delaying the issuance of a Seek and Find alert based on administrative processes, prior missing episodes or discretionary assessments unrelated to the missing person's safety. (Sec. 1)

5.   Mandates that all law enforcement agencies develop and conduct comprehensive Seek and Find alert training for all employees who have direct involvement in missing persons cases. (Sec. 1)

6.   Defines cognitive disability. (Sec. 1)

7.   Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                        HB 2894

Initials NM/DC         Page 0 Signed by the Governor

 

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