This bill amends the existing Silver Alert System in New Jersey to enhance the dissemination of information regarding missing persons believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairments. It requires that participating media outlets issue broadcast alerts similar to those used in Amber Alerts, which are typically activated in cases of child abduction. The bill mandates that upon issuance of a Silver Alert, media must broadcast a distinctive sound tone followed by the statement: "This is a Missing Person Silver Alert," along with a description of the missing person and any other pertinent information as determined by the lead law enforcement agency.

Additionally, the bill specifies that these alerts should be broadcast as frequently as possible during the first three hours of the alert's activation, with subsequent rebroadcasts occurring at intervals deemed appropriate by both the lead law enforcement agency and the participating media. The bill also removes references to the "Child Exploitation" aspect of the Missing Persons Unit, streamlining the focus solely on missing persons. Overall, this legislation aims to improve the effectiveness of the Silver Alert System by ensuring timely and consistent communication to the public.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:17B-194.6