Bill
Bill > S2836
summary
Introduced
02/27/2024
02/27/2024
In Committee
02/27/2024
02/27/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
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
This bill establishes a "Purple Alert System" to help find missing persons, similar to existing Silver and Amber Alerts, by creating a voluntary, cooperative effort between state and local law enforcement and broadcast media to rapidly disseminate information to the public. The system will be activated when a missing person report is filed, the person is believed to be in danger of death or serious bodily injury, and there is enough information to suggest an alert would aid in their location and can be shared with the public, while ensuring specific health information is not disclosed. The Missing Persons Unit within the Division of State Police, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, will also develop procedures for using overhead changeable message signs on highways to display information about missing persons, particularly if they were last seen in a vehicle, and the Attorney General will oversee a public education campaign about the system.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 02/27/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S2836 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3000/2836_I1.HTM |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S3000/2836_I1.HTM |
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