This bill proposes significant updates to the current statutes regarding the alert system for missing persons. It renames the existing "silver alert" to the "seek and find alert" and expands the criteria for issuing such alerts to include individuals with cognitive disabilities, in addition to those with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, or dementia, and those aged 65 and older. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies must activate the emergency alert system immediately upon request, regardless of the missing person's age, and prohibits any denial or delay of the alert due to administrative processes or prior missing episodes that do not pertain to the immediate risk to the person's safety.

Additionally, the bill requires all law enforcement agencies in Arizona to develop and implement comprehensive training on the seek and find alert notification system. This training must be conducted for all employees involved in missing person cases, including supervisors and communication dispatchers, at the time of hire and biannually. The training will focus on the legal criteria and processes for issuing alerts and will include a review of relevant department and state policies. The bill also defines "cognitive disability" in alignment with existing statutes, ensuring clarity in the criteria for alerts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-1728
House Engrossed Version: 41-1728
Senate Engrossed Version: 41-1728
Chaptered Version: 41-1728