If this bill were to become law, it would update current statutes by renaming the existing "silver alert" system to the "Safe Alert" system and expanding its criteria to include missing persons with cognitive disabilities, in addition to those with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, or dementia. 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 delays or denials of alerts based on administrative processes or prior missing episodes that do not pertain to the immediate safety risk of the individual.

Additionally, the bill requires all law enforcement agencies to develop and conduct comprehensive training on the Safe Alert Notification System for all employees involved in missing person cases. This training must be updated regularly and conducted biannually, focusing on the legal criteria and processes for issuing alerts. The bill also defines "cognitive disability" in alignment with existing statutes and makes conforming changes to ensure consistency throughout the law.

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