,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cgad ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #f1 #bjah,mr4 ,warner 7for himself and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to encourage1 enhance1 and integrate ,ashanti ,alert plans throughout the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ashanti ,alert ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,establishment of ,ashanti ,alert communications network ,kristen's ,act 7,public ,law #ajf-dfh2 #aad ,stat4 #bjbg7 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting before section #b 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #djejd7 the following3 ,i ,grants 2 7#b7 by redesignating sections #b 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #djejd7 and #c 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #djejd note7 as sections #aja and #ajb1 respectively2 7#c7 in section #aja7;b71 as so redesignated1 by striking this ,act and inserting this title2 7#d7 in section #ajb1 as so redesignated1 by striking this ,act and inserting this title2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 ,,ii ,ashanti ,alert communications network #bja4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 ,,amber alert communications network ,the term ,,amber ,alert communications network means the ,,amber ,alert communications network established under subtitle ,a of title ,,iii of the ,,protect ,act 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #bjeja et seq474 7#b7 ,ashanti ,alert ,the term ,ashanti ,alert means an alert issued through the ,ashanti ,alert communications network1 related to a missing adult4 7#c7 ,ashanti ,alert communications network ,the term ,ashanti ,alert communications network means the national communications network established by the ,attorney ,general under section #bjb7;a74 7#d7 ,ashanti ,alert ,coordinator of the ,department of ,justice2 ,coordinator ,the term ,ashanti ,alert ,coordinator of the ,department of ,justice or ,coordinator means the employee designated by the ,attorney ,general to act as the national coordinator of the ,ashanti ,alert communications network under section #bjc7;a74 7#e7 ,ashanti ,alert plan ,the term ,ashanti ,alert plan means a local element of the ,ashanti ,alert communications network4 7#f7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe means a federally recognized ,indian ,tribe or a ,native village1 ,regional ,corporation1 or ,village ,corporation 7as those terms are defined in section #c of the ,alaska ,native ,claims ,settlement ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #afjb774 7#g7 ,missing adult ,the term missing adult means an individual who-- 7,a7 is older than the age for which an alert may be issued through the ,,amber ,alert communications network in the ,state or territory of an ,indian ,tribe in which the individual is identified as a missing individual2 7,b7 is identified by a law enforcement agency as a missing individual2 and 7,c7 meets the requirements to be designated as a missing adult1 as determined by the ,state in which1 or the ,indian ,tribe in the territory of which1 the individual is identified as a missing individual4 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the #ej ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 #bjb4 ,ashanti ,alert communications network 7a7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general shall1 subject to the availability of appropriations1 establish a national communications network within the ,office of ,justice ,programs of the ,department of ,justice to provide assistance to regional and local search efforts for missing adults through the initiation1 facilitation1 and promotion of local elements of the network1 in coordination with ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 units of local government1 law enforcement agencies1 and other concerned entities with expertise in providing services to adults4 7b7 ,integration with existing communications network ,in establishing the ,ashanti ,alert communications network under subsection 7a71 the ,attorney ,general shall coordinate1 when advisable1 with missing person alert systems in existence as of the date of enactment of this title1 such as the ,,amber ,alert communications network and ,silver ,alert communications networks4 #bjc4 ,ashanti ,alert coordinator 7a7 ,national coordinator within ,department of ,justice ,the ,attorney ,general shall designate an employee of the ,office of ,justice ,programs of the ,department of ,justice to act as the national coordinator of the ,ashanti ,alert communications network4 7b7 ,duties of the ,coordinator ,in acting as the national coordinator of the ,ashanti ,alert communications network1 the ,coordinator shall-- 7#a7 work with ,states and ,indian ,tribes to encourage the development of additional ,ashanti ,alert plans in the network2 7#b7 establish voluntary guidelines for ,states and ,indian ,tribes to use in developing ,ashanti ,alert plans that will promote compatible and integrated ,ashanti ,alert plans throughout the ,united ,states1 including-- 7,a7 a list of the resources necessary to establish an ,ashanti ,alert plan2 7,b7 criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants issuing an ,ashanti ,alert1 taking into consideration the need for the use of ,ashanti ,alerts to be limited in scope because the effectiveness of the ,ashanti ,alert communications network may be affected by overuse1 including criteria to determine-- 7i7 whether the mental capacity of an adult who is missing1 and the circumstances of his or her disappearance1 including any history of domestic violence1 sexual assault1 child abuse1 or human trafficking1 warrant the issuance of an ,ashanti ,alert2 and 7ii7 whether the individual who reports that an adult is missing is an appropriate and credible source on which to base the issuance of an ,ashanti ,alert2 7,c7 a description of the appropriate uses of the ,ashanti ,alert name to readily identify the nature of search efforts for missing adults2 and 7,d7 recommendations on how to protect the privacy1 dignity1 independence1 autonomy1 and safety of any missing adult who may be the subject of an ,ashanti ,alert2 7#c7 develop proposed protocols for efforts to recover missing adults and to reduce the number of adults who are reported missing1 including protocols for procedures that are needed from the time of initial notification of a law enforcement agency that the adult is missing through the time of the return of the adult to family1 guardian1 or domicile1 as appropriate1 including-- 7,a7 public safety communications protocol2 7,b7 case management protocol2 7,c7 command center operations2 7,d7 reunification protocol2 7,e7 incident review1 evaluation1 debriefing1 and public information procedures2 and 7,f7 protocols for declining to issue an ,ashanti ,alert2 7#d7 work with ,states and ,indian ,tribes to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network2 7#e7 establish an advisory group to assist ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 units of local government1 law enforcement agencies1 and other entities involved in the ,ashanti ,alert communications network with initiating1 facilitating1 and promoting ,ashanti ,alert 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 adult citizen advocacy groups1 law enforcement agencies1 victim service providers 7as defined in section #djjjb7;a7 of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia7;a771 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 ,ashanti ,alert communications network2 and 7#f7 act as the nationwide point of contact for-- 7,a7 the development of the network2 and 7,b7 regional coordination of alerts for missing adults 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 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,aging of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 and other appropriate offices of the ,department of ,justice1 including the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women1 in carrying out activities under this title4 7#b7 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local coordination ,the ,coordinator shall consult with local broadcasters and ,state1 ,tribal1 and local law enforcement agencies in establishing minimum standards under section #bjd and in carrying out other activities under this title1 as appropriate4 7d7 ,annual reports 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this title1 and annually thereafter1 the ,coordinator shall submit to ,congress a report on-- 7,a7 the activities of the ,coordinator2 and 7,b7 the effectiveness and status of the ,ashanti ,alert plan of each ,state or ,indian ,tribe that has established or is in the process of establishing such a plan4 7#b7 ,contents ,each report under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a list of each ,state or ,indian ,tribe that has established an ,ashanti ,alert plan2 7,b7 a list of each ,state or ,indian ,tribe that is in the process of establishing an ,ashanti ,alert plan2 7,c7 for each ,state or ,indian ,tribe that has established an ,ashanti ,alert plan1 to the extent the data is available-- 7i7 the number of ,ashanti ,alerts issued2 7ii7 the number of missing adults located successfully2 7iii7 the average period of time between the issuance of an ,ashanti ,alert and the location of the missing adult for whom the ,alert was issued2 7iv7 the ,state or ,tribal agency or authority issuing ,ashanti ,alerts1 and the process by which ,ashanti ,alerts are disseminated2 7v7 the cost of establishing and operating the ,ashanti ,alert plan2 7vi7 the criteria used by the ,state or ,indian ,tribe to determine whether to issue an ,ashanti ,alert2 and 7vii7 the extent to which missing adults for whom ,ashanti ,alerts were issued crossed ,state lines or territorial borders of an ,indian ,tribe2 7,d7 actions ,states and ,indian ,tribes have taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the missing adults for whom ,ashanti ,alerts are issued2 7,e7 ways that ,states and ,indian ,tribes have facilitated and improved communication about missing adults between families1 caregivers1 law enforcement officials1 and other authorities2 and 7,f7 any other information the ,coordinator determines to be appropriate4 #bjd4 ,minimum standards for issuance and dissemination of alerts through ,ashanti alert communications 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 ,ashanti ,alert communications network2 and 7#b7 the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued through the ,ashanti ,alert communications network4 7b7 ,limitations 7#a7 ,dissemination of information ,the minimum standards established under subsection 7a7 shall1 to the maximum extent practicable 7as determined by the ,coordinator in consultation with ,state1 ,tribal1 and local law enforcement agencies71 provide for the dissemination of appropriate information relating to the special needs of a missing adult 7including health care needs7 to the appropriate law enforcement1 public health1 and other public officials4 7#b7 ,geographic areas ,the minimum standards established under subsection 7a7 shall1 to the maximum extent practicable 7as determined by the ,coordinator in consultation with ,state1 ,tribal1 and local law enforcement agencies71 provide that the dissemination of an alert through the ,ashanti ,alert communications network shall be limited to the geographic areas that the missing adult could reasonably reach1 considering-- 7,a7 the circumstances and physical and mental condition of the missing adult2 7,b7 the modes of transportation available to the missing adult2 and 7,c7 the circumstances of the disappearance4 7#c7 ,other requirements ,the minimum standards established under subsection 7a7 shall require that1 in order for an ,ashanti ,alert to be issued for a missing adult1 the missing adult-- 7,a7 suffers from a proven mental or physical disability1 as documented by a source determined credible by an appropriate law enforcement agency2 or 7,b7 be missing under circumstances that indicate1 as determined by an appropriate law enforcement agency-- 7i7 that the physical safety of the missing adult may be endangered2 or 7ii7 that the disappearance of the missing adult may not have been voluntary1 including an abduction or kidnapping4 7#d7 ,safety1 privacy1 and civil liberties protections ,the minimum standards established under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7,a7 ensure that alerts issued through the ,ashanti ,alert communications network comply with all applicable ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local privacy laws and regulations2 7,b7 include standards that specifically provide for the protection of the civil liberties and sensitive medical information of missing adults2 and 7,c7 include standards requiring1 as appropriate1 a review of relevant court records1 prior contacts with law enforcement1 and other information relevant to the missing adult or the individual reporting1 in order to provide protections against domestic violence4 7#e7 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local voluntary coordination ,in establishing minimum standards under subsection 7a71 the ,coordinator may not interfere with the system of voluntary coordination between local broadcasters and ,state1 ,tribal1 and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of regional and local search efforts for missing adults that was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this title4 #bje4 ,voluntary participation ,the minimum standards established under section #bjd7;a71 and any other guidelines and programs established under section #bjc1 shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only4 #bjf4 ,training and educational programs ,the ,coordinator shall make available to ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 units of local government1 law enforcement agencies1 and other concerned entities that are involved in initiating1 facilitating1 or promoting ,ashanti ,alert plans1 including broadcasters1 first responders1 dispatchers1 public safety communications personnel1 and radio station personnel-- 7#a7 training and educational programs related to the ,ashanti ,alert communications network and the capabilities1 limitations1 and anticipated behaviors of missing adults1 which the ,coordinator shall update regularly to encourage the use of new tools1 technologies1 and resources in ,ashanti ,alert plans2 and 7#b7 informational materials1 including brochures1 videos1 posters1 and websites to support and supplement the training and educational programs described in paragraph 7#a74 #bjg4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,attorney ,general #c1jjj1jjj to carry out the ,ashanti ,alert communications network as authorized under this title for each of fiscal years #bjai through #bjbb4 4 #c4 ,emergency ,federal law enforcement assistance ,section #fji,y7a7 of the ,justice ,assistance ,act of #aihd 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ejaab7;a77 is amended by striking ,september #cj1 #bjba and inserting ,september #cj1 #bjbb4