SF 3858

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/19/2024 10:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; creating a Wambdi Alert system to aid in locating missing
Indigenous persons; establishing a dedicated phone line for missing and murdered
Indigenous relatives; providing a criminal penalty; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 299A; 626.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [299A.87] MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS RELATIVES;
DEDICATED PHONE LINE.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall establish and operate a dedicated phone line
for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. The phone line must operate 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. The phone line must facilitate connecting a caller with an appropriate
contact at either the Office for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives or the Bureau
of Criminal Apprehension.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [626.97] WAMBDI ALERT SYSTEM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin As used in this section, "Wambdi" means "eagle" in the
Dakota language.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall establish a Wambdi
Alert system to aid in the identification, location, and recovery of missing Indigenous persons
of any age. The commissioner shall coordinate with local and Tribal law enforcement
agencies and public and commercial television and radio broadcasters to provide an effective
alert system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Criteria and procedures. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the
commissioner of transportation; the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension;
the AMBER Alert coordinator; the executive director of the Minnesota Indian Affairs
Council; the director of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office; and
representatives from the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Sheriffs'
Association, and the Minnesota Broadcasters Association, shall develop criteria and
procedures for the Wambdi Alert system. By October 1, 2024, the commissioner shall adopt
criteria and procedures for the Wambdi Alert system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Oversight. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall regularly review the function of the Wambdi
Alert system and revise its criteria and procedures to provide for efficient and effective
public notification.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin The Wambdi Alert system shall include all state, local, and Tribal
agencies capable of providing urgent and timely information to the public, together with
broadcasters and other private entities that volunteer to participate in the dissemination of
urgent public information.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Additional notice. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may notify authorities and entities outside
of the state upon verification that the criteria established under this section have been met.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin False reports. new text end

new text begin A person who knowingly makes a false report that triggers an
alert under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
new text end

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

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2025 from the general fund to the commissioner of
public safety to implement this act.
new text end