HF 622

2nd Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:39am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a program to assist local law enforcement
agencies to develop or expand lifesaver programs that locate lost or wandering
persons who are mentally impaired; authorizing a voluntary advisory task force;
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] LIFESAVER PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Program assistance. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall
assist local law enforcement agencies with the development and implementation of
lifesaver rapid response programs designed to quickly find individuals with medical
conditions that cause wandering and result in many of these individuals becoming lost
and missing. The search and rescue program must electronically track a lost or missing
vulnerable senior citizen or an individual who is mentally impaired due to autism, Down
Syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, or other mental impairment that causes wandering. 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. The commissioner shall promote the lifesaver program throughout the
state and serve as liaison to lifesaver programs developed and implemented by local
law enforcement agencies.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Lifesaver advisory task force. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of public safety
shall convene a voluntary lifesaver advisory task force to facilitate the development
and implementation of lifesaver programs by local law enforcement agencies. The
commissioner shall appoint at least five persons from various geographic areas of the state
to the voluntary task force. The task force must be composed of at least one member
experienced in an area of mental impairment, one member experienced in the area of law
enforcement, and one member experienced in the development of a lifesaver or similar
program. Members serve without compensation at the pleasure of the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) The voluntary task force expires June 30, 2013.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. 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 having jurisdiction over public safety by January
15, 2012, on the effectiveness of lifesaver programs developed and implemented by local
law enforcement agencies.
new text end