2010 Tennessee Code
Title 38 - Prevention And Detection Of Crime
Chapter 6 - Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Part 1 - General Provisions
38-6-121 - Missing senior citizen alert program.

38-6-121. Missing senior citizen alert program.

(a)  The general assembly finds that, in the case of a missing senior citizen, the first few hours are critical in finding the senior citizen. To aid in the identification and location of missing senior citizens, there is created the missing senior citizen alert program. This program shall be coordinated by local law enforcement agencies, which may choose to seek the assistance of nonprofit organizations such as A Child is Missing or the Alzheimer's Association.

(b)  For the purposes of this section, “missing senior citizen” means a person:

     (1)  Whose whereabouts are unknown;

     (2)  Whose age at the time the person is first reported missing is sixty (60) years of age or older and who has an impaired mental condition as determined by a local law enforcement agency; and

     (3)  Who is believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, in combination with environmental or weather conditions, or is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.

(c)  (1)  When a local law enforcement agency receives notice that a senior citizen is missing, the agency may require the senior citizen's family or legal guardian to provide documentation, including, but not limited to, medical records, if available, of the senior citizen's impaired mental condition.

     (2)  Once the local law enforcement agency verifies that the senior citizen is missing, the local law enforcement may notify A Child is Missing, the Alzheimer's Association, or any other such nonprofit assistance program, to activate its alert program.

     (3)  Local law enforcement shall enter the report of the missing senior citizen with an impaired mental condition into the national crime information center (NCIC) within four (4) hours of the completion of the verification process.

     (4)  The alert may be sent to designated media outlets in this state at the discretion of the local law enforcement agency. Media outlets shall be strongly encouraged to publicize the information provided in order to promote the safe recovery of the missing senior citizen. If the alert is sent to media outlets, it shall contain all appropriate information from the local law enforcement agency that may assist in the safe recovery of the missing senior citizen and a statement instructing anyone with information related to the missing senior citizen to contact their local law enforcement agency.

     (5)  The alert shall be cancelled by the local law enforcement agency upon notification that the missing senior citizen has been found, including cancellation of the missing person entry into NCIC.

[Acts 2009, ch. 590, § 1.]