2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 40 Public health and safety :: RS 40:2529 Repealed by acts 2010, no. 743, §14, eff. july 1, 2010.

CHAPTER 24-D.  SILVER ALERT NETWORK

§2529.  Silver Alert Network; Silver Alert Steering Committee

A.  There is hereby created a Silver Alert Network for issuing a "Silver Alert" for a person with a verified mental impairment who is missing from his residence or from the supervision of his caretaker, whose whereabouts are unknown, and which poses a credible threat to the person's health and safety.

B.  There is hereby created a Silver Alert Steering Committee, composed of the following members:

(1)  The deputy secretary for public safety services of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, or his designee, who shall serve as chairman.

(2)  The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development or his designee.

(3)  The presiding officers or their designees of each the following:  Louisiana State Troopers Association, Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association.

(4)  A representative or designee of each of the following:  Louisiana Association of Broadcasters and the Louisiana Cable and Telecommunications Association.

(5)  A representative or designee of each of the following:  Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and the director of the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs.

C.  The Silver Alert Steering Committee shall study and make recommendations to the legislature on all of the following:

(1)  Criteria for activation of a "Silver Alert" and guidelines for determining whether the alert shall be issued on a local, regional, or statewide basis.

(2)  The appropriate alert, including the use of the Louisiana State Police Level II notification system, but excluding the use of the Amber Alert System or the Emergency Alert System.

(3)  Providing procedures for determination by the law enforcement agency receiving information that a person with a mental impairment is missing, and verification that the person is in fact missing, has a diagnosed mental impairment, and that the person's disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety.

(4)  Specific information to be provided to the public and the media which will assist in the safe recovery of the missing person with a mental impairment, recognizing that the  participation by the media is voluntary and that collaboration with media is integral to the recovery of missing persons with a mental impairment.

(5)  A plan for activating the dynamic highway message signs under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development with a "Silver Alert", if the person with a mental impairment was driving a vehicle at the time of his disappearance and accurate vehicle information is available.

(6)  Recommendations on an educational training video for use by all law enforcement agencies in the state which shall be made available on a Louisiana State Police web site designated for the "Silver Alert" Network.

(7)  Any other recommendations necessary for the implementation of the Silver Alert Network.

D.  As used in this Section:

(1)  "Media" means print, radio, television, Internet-based communication systems, or other methods of communicating information to the public.

(2)  "Mental impairment" means any psychological, cognitive, or mental impairment, decline, disorder, or condition, including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease or dementia but excluding chronic alcoholism or any other form of active drug addiction.

(3)  "Person" means a person eighteen years of age or older who is domiciled in Louisiana.

(4)  "Silver Alert" means the notice provided to the public through law enforcement and the media that a person with a verified mental impairment is missing from his residence or from the supervision of his caretaker, his whereabouts are unknown, and that the person's health and safety may be in danger.

Acts 2008, No. 662, §1, eff. July 1, 2008.

NOTE:  See Acts 2008, No. 662, §2, relative to meetings of the Silver Alert Steering Committee and report to the legislature prior to the 2009 R.S.