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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
missing indigenous person; alert system
Purpose
Establishes the Missing Indigenous or Endangered Person Alert System (Alert System) to issue and coordinate alerts for a missing indigenous or endangered person and outlines qualifying conditions for an activation of the federally authorized Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Background
The Silver Alert Notification System is a quick response system designed to issue and coordinate alerts on the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency investigating a missing person report. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) must request an activation of the EAS to issue a silver alert if: 1) the missing person is at least 65 years old or has a developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease or dementia; 2) the investigating law enforcement agency has used all available local resources, determined that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and believes that the missing person is in danger; 3) there is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person; and 4) DPS has been designated to use the federally authorized EAS for the issuance of silver alerts (A.R.S. § 41-1728).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
2. Requires, on the request of an authorized person at a law enforcement agency that is investigating a report of a missing indigenous or endangered person, DPS to request an activation of the EAS and issue an alert if:
a) the person is an indigenous person or a nonindigenous endangered person who is at least 18 years old;
b) the investigating law enforcement agency has used all available local resources, determined that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and believes that the person is in danger, in the company of a potentially dangerous person or there are other factors indicating that the person may be in peril;
c) there is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the person; and
d) DPS has been designated to use the federally authorized EAS for the issuance of missing indigenous or endangered person alerts.
3. Requires, if a missing indigenous or endangered person alert is issued, DPS to provide the alert information to any other entity that provides similar notifications in Arizona.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
PSLE 1/23/25 W/D
TI 2/5/25 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/24/25 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 10, 2025
KJA/NRG/slp