,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbaa ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #g1 #bjag,mr4 ,manchin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 ,cornyn1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 and ,ms4 ,collins7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to establish a national endangered missing advisory communications network1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as ,skylar's ,law4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,coordinator ,the term ,coordinator means the ,,ema ,network ,coordinator designated under section #d7;a74 7#b7 ,,ema ,network ,the term ,,ema ,network means the national endangered missing advisory communications network established under subsection 7a74 7#c7 ,missing individual ,the term missing individual refers to any individual who-- 7,a7 is reported to1 or identified by1 a law enforcement agency as a missing person2 and 7,b7 may be in danger of death or serious bodily injury4 7#d7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the #ej ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 each ,indian tribe 7as defined in section #d7;e7 of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;e7771 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #c4 ,national endangered missing advisory communications network 7a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general shall1 subject to the availability of appropriations1 establish a national endangered missing advisory communications network within the ,department of ,justice to provide assistance to regional and local search efforts for missing individuals through the initiation1 facilitation1 and promotion of local elements of the network 7known as ,,ema plans7 in coordination with ,states1 units of local government1 law enforcement agencies1 and other concerned entities with expertise in providing services to families of missing individuals4 7b7 ,coordination with ,,amber ,alert ,network ,in establishing the ,,ema ,network under subsection 7a71 the ,attorney ,general shall ensure that1 when feasible1 the ,,ema ,network is able to operate in coordination with the ,,amber ,alert communications network1 established under subtitle ,a of title ,,iii of the ,,protect ,act 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #bjeja et seq471 to maximize the efficiency of both networks4 #d4 ,,ema ,network coordinator 7a7 ,national ,coordinator within ,department of ,justice ,the ,attorney ,general shall designate an individual of the ,department of ,justice to act as the national coordinator of the ,,ema ,network4 ,the individual so designated shall be known as the ,,ema ,network ,coordinator of the ,department of ,justice4 7b7 ,duties of the ,coordinator ,in acting as the national coordinator of the ,,ema ,network1 the ,coordinator shall-- 7#a7 work with ,states to encourage the development of additional ,,ema plans in the network2 7#b7 establish voluntary guidelines for ,states to use in developing ,,ema plans that will promote compatible and integrated ,,ema plans throughout the ,united ,states1 including-- 7,a7 a list of the resources necessary to establish an ,,ema plan2 7,b7 criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants issuing an endangered missing advisory1 taking into consideration both the need for immediate community notification and the need for the use of such advisories to be limited in scope because the effectiveness of the ,,ema ,network may be affected by overuse1 including criteria to determine-- 7i7 whether the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of an individual warrant the issuance of an endangered missing advisory2 and 7ii7 whether the individual who reports that an individual is missing is an appropriate and credible source on which to base the issuance of an endangered missing advisory2 7,c7 a description of the appropriate uses of the ,,ema ,network name to readily identify the nature of search efforts for missing individuals2 and 7,d7 recommendations on how to protect the privacy1 dignity1 independence1 and autonomy of any missing individual who may be the subject of an endangered missing advisory2 7#c7 work with ,states to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network2 7#d7 establish an advisory group to assist ,states1 units of local government1 law enforcement agencies1 and other entities involved in the ,,ema ,network with initiating1 facilitating1 and promoting ,,ema plans1 which shall include-- 7,a7 to the maximum extent practicable1 representation from the various geographic regions of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 members who are-- 7i7 representatives of missing individual advocacy groups1 law enforcement agencies1 and public safety communications2 7ii7 broadcasters1 first responders1 dispatchers1 and radio station personnel2 and 7iii7 representatives of any other individuals or organizations that the ,coordinator determines are necessary to the success of the ,,ema ,network2 and 7#e7 act as the nationwide point of contact for-- 7,a7 the development of the network2 and 7,b7 regional coordination of alerts for missing individuals through the network4 7c7 ,coordination 7#a7 ,coordination with other agencies ,the ,coordinator shall coordinate and consult with the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 and other appropriate offices of the ,department of ,justice in carrying out activities under this ,act4 7#b7 ,state and local coordination ,the ,coordinator shall consult with local broadcasters and ,state and local law enforcement agencies in establishing minimum standards under section #e and in carrying out other activities under this ,act1 as appropriate4 7d7 ,annual reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,coordinator shall submit to ,congress a report on the activities of the ,coordinator and the effectiveness and status of the ,,ema plans of each ,state that has established or is in the process of establishing ,,ema plans4 7#b7 ,contents ,each report submitted under paragraph 7#b7 shall include-- 7,a7 a list of ,states that have established ,,ema plans2 7,b7 a list of ,states that are in the process of establishing ,,ema plans2 7,c7 for each ,state that has established ,,ema plans1 to the extent the data is available-- 7i7 the number of endangered missing advisories issued2 7ii7 the number of individuals located successfully2 7iii7 the average period of time between the issuance of an endangered missing advisory and the location of the individual for whom such advisory was issued2 7iv7 the ,state agency or authority issuing endangered missing advisories1 and the process by which endangered missing advisories are disseminated2 7v7 the cost of establishing and operating such ,,ema plans2 7vi7 the criteria used by the ,state to determine whether to issue an endangered missing advisory2 and 7vii7 the extent to which missing individuals for whom endangered missing advisories were issued crossed ,state lines2 7,d7 actions ,states have taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the individuals for whom endangered missing advisories are issued2 7,e7 ways that ,states have facilitated and improved communication about missing individuals between families1 caregivers1 law enforcement officials1 and other authorities2 and 7,f7 any other information the ,coordinator determines to be appropriate4 #e4 ,minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through ,,ema ,network 7a7 ,establishment of minimum standards ,subject to subsection 7b71 the ,coordinator shall establish minimum standards for-- 7#a7 the issuance of alerts through the ,,ema ,network2 and 7#b7 the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the ,,ema ,network4 7b7 ,limitations 7#a7 ,voluntary participation ,the minimum standards established under subsection 7a7 of this section1 and any other guidelines and programs established under section #d1 shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only4 7#b7 ,dissemination of information ,the minimum standards shall1 to the maximum extent practicable 7as determined by the ,coordinator in consultation with ,state and local law enforcement agencies71 provide that appropriate information relating to the special needs of a missing individual 7including health care needs7 are disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement1 public health1 and other public officials4 7#c7 ,geographic areas ,the minimum standards shall1 to the maximum extent practicable 7as determined by the ,coordinator in consultation with ,state and local law enforcement agencies71 provide that the dissemination of an alert through the ,,ema ,network be limited to the geographic areas which the missing individual could reasonably reach1 considering the missing individual's circumstances and physical and mental condition1 the modes of transportation available to the missing individual1 and the circumstances of the disappearance4 7#d7 ,age requirements ,the minimum standards shall not include any specific age requirement for an individual to be classified as a missing individual for purposes of the ,,ema ,network4 7#e7 ,privacy and civil liberties protections ,the minimum standards shall-- 7,a7 ensure that alerts issued through the ,,ema ,network comply with all applicable ,federal1 ,state1 and local privacy laws and regulations2 and 7,b7 include standards that specifically provide for the protection of the civil liberties and sensitive medical information of missing individuals4 7#f7 ,state and local voluntary coordination ,in carrying out the activities under subsection 7a71 the ,coordinator may not interfere with the current system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and ,state and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of the ,,ema ,network4 #f4 ,training and other resources ,the ,coordinator shall make available to ,states1 units of local government1 law enforcement agencies1 and other concerned entities that are involved in initiating1 facilitating1 or promoting ,,ema plans1 including broadcasters1 first responders1 dispatchers1 public safety communications personnel1 and radio station personnel-- 7#a7 training and educational programs related to the ,,ema ,network and the capabilities1 limitations1 and anticipated behaviors of missing individuals1 which shall be updated regularly to encourage the use of new tools1 technologies1 and resources in ,,ema plans2 and 7#b7 informational materials1 including brochures1 videos1 posters1 and web sites to support and supplement such training and educational programs4 #g4 ,use of amounts previously appropriated ,this ,act shall be carried out using amounts appropriated to the ,department of ,justice to carry out the ,missing and ,exploited ,children ,program1 including amounts appropriated to carry out the ,missing ,children's ,assistance ,act 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #aabia et seq471 the ,,protect ,act 7,public ,law #ajh-ba2 #aag ,stat4 #fej71 and the ,victims of ,child ,abuse ,act of #aiij 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #bjcja et seq474 ,no additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act4