Minnesota Session Laws - 2015, Regular Session

CHAPTER 36--S.F.No. 857

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; 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. 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 consist of 11 members as follows: new text end

new text begin (1) the commissioner of public safety or a designee; new text end

new text begin (2) the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or a designee; new text end

new text begin (3) the Amber Alert coordinator or a designee; new text end

new text begin (4) one person employed by the Department of Transportation, appointed by the commissioner of transportation; new text end

new text begin (5) one person from the Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council, appointed by the commissioner of human services; and new text end

new text begin (6) one representative appointed by the commissioner of public safety from each of the following groups: new text end

new text begin (i) a person working for Tubman in the area of elder care; new text end

new text begin (ii) the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association; new text end

new text begin (iii) the Minnesota Sheriff's Association; new text end

new text begin (iv) the Minnesota Broadcasters Association; new text end

new text begin (v) the Alzheimer's Association; and new text end

new text begin (vi) the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance. new text end

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. new text end

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. 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

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. new text end

Presented to the governor May 13, 2015

Signed by the governor May 14, 2015, 6:53 p.m.