BILL NUMBER: S6865
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the creation of a
"ebony alert system" for missing Black youth
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
This bill provide a formal process for a parent or legal guardian to
request the issuance of an EBONY alert
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill enacts an Ebony alert system to notify the public of missing
black youth, including young women, men, nonbinary, boys, and girls, who
are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, at
risk, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired, or who have
been abducted to aid in the identification, location, and apprehension
of any individual.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs,
there are approximately 600,000 people who go missing each year in the
United States. Nearly 40 percent of missing persons are Black or African
American. Black children make up about 38 percent of missing children
cases in the U.S. and receive less media attention. In addition to less
coverage, black or African American youth are disproportionately classi-
fied as "runaways" in comparison to non-black individuals. Often these
classifications result in a nonissuance of an Amber Alert. Establishing
the Ebony Alert System would shorten the unequivocal societal gap while
increasing the probable chances of saving the lives of Black Youth
throughout New York State.
New York State currently has various alert systems for specified crite-
ria including the Missing Adult Alert Program, the Silver Alert System
for missing Seniors, and the Amber Alert System for missing children.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.8345
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act takes effect immediately.