Bill > H2657

This bill establishes a Purple Alert program in Massachusetts to help locate missing persons with disabilities, creating a new legal framework for quickly disseminating information about individuals who go missing and have specific mental, cognitive, intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. The program allows local law enforcement agencies to activate a Purple Alert when a missing person with a disability is determined to be in potential immediate danger and cannot likely return to safety without intervention. The alert system will include rapid public information sharing, such as descriptions and photographs, while maintaining the missing person's privacy and dignity. To initiate a Purple Alert, a family member, legal caregiver, or custodian must file a missing person's report with local law enforcement, who will then verify the case meets specific criteria, notify state authorities, enter information into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), alert local law enforcement and emergency services, activate secondary alert systems to residents and media, provide a 24-hour contact number, and keep the family updated. The alert will be terminated once the person is located or when circumstances no longer warrant its activation. The bill takes effect 90 days after passage and aims to create a more targeted and sensitive approach to locating vulnerable missing individuals compared to existing alert systems like Silver or Amber Alerts.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2657