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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
missing indigenous person; alert system
Purpose
Establishes the Turquoise Alert System (System) to issue and coordinate alerts for a missing person who is a tribal member under 65 years old and outlines requirements for the issuance and dissemination of an alert.
Background
The Silver Alert Notification System is a quick response system designed to issue and coordinate alerts on the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency (LEA) investigating a missing person report. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) must request an activation of the federally authorized Emergency Alert System (federal EAS) to issue a silver alert if: 1) the missing person is at least 65 years old or has a developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease or dementia; 2) the investigating LEA has used all available local resources, determined that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and believes that the missing person is in danger; 3) there is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person; and 4) DPS has been designated to use the federal EAS for the issuance of silver alerts (A.R.S. § 41-1728).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
2. Specifies that a person is defined as a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
3. Requires, on the request of an authorized person at an LEA that is investigating a report of a missing person, DPS to request an activation of the federal EAS and issue a turquoise alert if:
a) the missing person is less than 65 years old;
b) the investigating LEA has used all available local resources, determined that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and believes that the person is in danger, in the company of a potentially dangerous person or there are other factors indicating that the person may be in peril;
c) there is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person; and
d) DPS has been designated to use the federal EAS for the issuance of turquoise alerts.
4. Requires, if a turquoise alert is issued, DPS to provide the alert information to any other entity that provides similar notifications in Arizona.
6. Defines a person.
7. Designates this legislation as Emily's Law.
8. Contains a purpose statement.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Renames the Missing Indigenous or Endangered Person Alert System as the System.
2. Narrows the turquoise alert to missing persons who are at least 18 and less than 65 years old, rather than missing indigenous persons and missing endangered persons who are nonindigenous and at least 18 years old.
3. Defines a person as a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
4. Defines an LEA.
5. Designates this legislation as Emily's Law.
6. Adds a purpose statement.
7. Makes conforming changes.
Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole
· Removes, from the requirements for DPS to issue a turquoise alert, the stipulation that the missing person is at least 18 years old.
House Action Senate Action
PSLE 1/23/25 W/D PS 3/12/25 DP 7-0-0
TI 2/5/25 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/24/25 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
April 30, 2025
KJA/NRG/slp