SF 857

2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/18/2015 11:59am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a working group to study and make
recommendations on establishing a Silver Alert system; requiring a report.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin SILVER ALERT SYSTEM WORKING GROUP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Working group established; study required; duties. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner of public safety shall convene a Silver Alert system working group to study
the state's need for a Silver Alert system to aid in the recovery of missing persons who are
senior citizens with dementia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, or other mental
disabilities. If the working group concludes that the state needs a Silver Alert system, the
group shall make recommendations on the establishment of a Silver Alert system including,
but not limited to, criteria for activating the system. When studying this issue, the working
group shall assess the state's current notification systems used to locate missing persons,
including the state's Amber Alert system, and examine alert systems from other states to
determine the most successful methods for locating missing vulnerable senior citizens.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The working group shall consist of 11 members as follows:
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new text begin (1) the commissioner of public safety or a designee;
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new text begin (2) the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or a designee;
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new text begin (3) the Amber Alert coordinator or a designee;
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new text begin (4) one person employed by the Department of Transportation, appointed by the
commissioner of transportation;
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new text begin (5) one person from the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council,
appointed by the commissioner of human services; and
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new text begin (6) one representative appointed by the commissioner of public safety from each
of the following groups:
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new text begin (i) a person working for Tubman in the area of elder care;
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new text begin (ii) the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association;
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new text begin (iii) the Minnesota Sheriff's Association;
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new text begin (iv) the Minnesota Broadcasters Association;
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new text begin (v) the Alzheimer's Association; and
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new text begin (vi) the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance.
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new text begin In selecting these representatives, the commissioner of public safety shall solicit
nominees from each of these groups and shall ensure that the working group has expertise
and a broad range of interests represented, including multicultural perspectives.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administrative issues. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall convene
the first meeting of the working group by August 15, 2015. The Department of Public
Safety shall provide meeting space and administrative support to the working group. The
working group shall select a chair from among its members.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Report and draft legislation required. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2016, the working
group shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and
house of representatives committees and divisions having jurisdiction over public safety
and human services. The report must summarize the working group's activities and include
its recommendations. The recommendations must be specific and include estimates of
the costs involved in implementing the recommendations, including funding sources. In
addition, the report must include draft legislation to implement the recommendations.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin The working group expires the day after submitting the report
required under subdivision 4 or February 15, 2016, whichever is earlier.
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