Bill > A2017

Introduced Session

This bill establishes an emergency "Purple Alert System" to notify the public of a missing person. Under the bill, the emergency alert plan would be a voluntary, cooperative effort between State and local law enforcement agencies and the broadcast media. Upon notice by the lead law enforcement agency, the participating broadcast media would transmit an emergency alert to inform the public of the disappearance of a person. The Missing Persons Unit in the Division of State Police, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, will develop a procedure for the use of overhead permanent changeable message signs to provide information on the missing person. This legislation is modeled on the Silver and Amber Alerts in current law. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), which is funded by the United States Department of Justice, more than 600,000 people go missing annually. Approximately 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year. Further, according to NamUs, in this State there are 358 open missing persons cases and 426 open unidentified persons cases in 2022. According to the sponsor, this bill will help reduce the number of missing persons within the State. In addition, the bill will encourage the public to assist in locating a missing person and report any information that is known to law enforcement.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Michele Matsikoudis (R)*,  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document