SF 857

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/10/2015 03:36pm

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.
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 Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance. The commissioner
shall ensure that the working group has expertise and a broad range of interests
represented, including multicultural perspectives.
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 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.
new text end