HF 1615

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/09/2015 02:00pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a grant program to assist local law
enforcement agencies to develop or expand lifesaver programs that locate senior
citizens who are mentally impaired; establishing a working group to study and
make recommendations on establishing a Silver Alert system; authorizing
rulemaking; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299C.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [299C.563] SENIOR CITIZEN LIFESAVER GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall establish a
senior citizen lifesaver grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies with the
costs of developing lifesaver rapid response programs designed to quickly find missing
persons who are senior citizens with dementia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease,
or other mental disabilities. The search and rescue program must electronically track a
lost or missing senior citizen who is mentally impaired due to autism, Down Syndrome,
Alzheimer's disease, or other mental impairment. The lifesaver program participant wears
a small transmitter on the wrist to allow the local law enforcement agency to electronically
locate the participant, if necessary, using a radio receiver. Grants may be awarded to new
and existing programs. The commissioner shall administer and promote the grant program
throughout the state and serve as liaison to lifesaver programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Application; eligibility. new text end

new text begin A county law enforcement agency or two or more
county or county and city law enforcement agencies may apply to the commissioner of
public safety for a grant in a form and manner established by the commissioner. The
application must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) an estimate of the number of people who might qualify for lifesaver assistance;
new text end

new text begin (2) an estimate of the start-up cost for new programs or expansion costs for existing
programs;
new text end

new text begin (3) a statement of the number of personnel available for tracking lost persons;
new text end

new text begin (4) a statement of available local funding sources; and
new text end

new text begin (5) other information requested by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin To the extent funds are available, the commissioner may
award grants of up to $4,000 to eligible applicants to develop a new senior citizen lifesaver
program and up to $2,000 to eligible applicants to expand an existing program. If eligible
applicants exceed the funds available, all grants must be reduced proportionately so that
each eligible applicant receives the same proportion of the amount for which the applicant
was eligible. Recipients developing a new senior citizen lifesaver program shall be given
priority over recipients expanding an existing program. Grant recipients must be located
throughout the state to the extent feasible and consistent with this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Uses of grant award. new text end

new text begin (a) A grant recipient may use an award only for
the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) to purchase emergency response kits, which shall include, at a minimum,
equipment necessary to track and triangulate searches, transmitters, receivers, or any
other related equipment; and
new text end

new text begin (2) to train search personnel.
new text end

new text begin (b) A grant recipient shall manage and provide for the operating costs of the senior
citizen lifesaver program after its initial development or expansion based on whether the
grant is to develop a new program or expand an existing program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Lifesaver grant program account. new text end

new text begin The senior citizen lifesaver grant
program account is established in the state treasury. The account shall consist of
contributions from private sources and state money when appropriated. Money deposited
in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety for the purposes of
this section. Money in the account that is not expended in the fiscal year in which it is
appropriated does not revert to the general fund but is available until expended.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Rulemaking authority. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety may adopt
rules under chapter 14 as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section
including, at least, the annual deadline for submitting applications for a grant, procedures
for reporting search and rescue statistics using technology obtained with a grant, and
procedures for implementing or expanding a senior citizen lifesaver program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Report by local agencies. new text end

new text begin A grant recipient shall file a report with the
commissioner itemizing the expenditures made to develop or expand its senior citizen
lifesaver program and how the recipient will provide for continued operating costs of the
program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Report to legislature. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall report to the house of
representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over public safety by January 15,
2018, on the coordination and implementation of senior citizen lifesaver programs and the
implementation, use, and administration of the grant program under this section.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SILVER ALERT SYSTEM; WORKING GROUP.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

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

new text begin The commissioner
of public safety shall convene a 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The working group shall include the commissioner or
a designee, the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Amber
Alert coordinator, and representatives of the following groups: Elder Care Alliance,
the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, the
Minnesota Broadcasters Association, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the
Alzheimer's Association, and the Traumatic Brain Injury Organization. The commissioner
shall ensure that the working group has expertise and a broad range of interests represented.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Administrative issues. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall convene the first meeting
of the working group by September 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.
new text end

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 with 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.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2016 and $....... in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of public safety for the purposes of the lifesaver grant
program under section 1.
new text end