Sec. 44.41.060. Missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plans.

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(a)The Department of Public Safety, in cooperation with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, shall, using statewide and local radio and television broadcasts, newspapers, and other communications media,

(1)develop and implement missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plans for use by law enforcement agencies, groups, and persons to locate a vulnerable adult who is missing; and

(2)coordinate the use of those plans.

(b)The plans required by

(a)of this section must at least include standards for

(1)determining when and where to implement a plan; standards developed under this paragraph must at least address

(A)when a vulnerable adult will be considered missing; and

(B)the format, contents, and distribution of reports prepared by participating law enforcement agencies and others searching for a missing vulnerable adult; and

(2)voluntary participation in the plan by radio and television broadcasters, newspaper publishers, and owners and operators of other communications media.

(c)Notwithstanding another provision of law,

(1)a law enforcement agency, an officer or employee of the law enforcement agency, a person, or a group is not civilly liable for

(A)failing to participate in a missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plan;

(B)failing to implement a missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plan; or

(C)activating a missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plan if implementation is undertaken in good faith;

(2)a radio or television broadcaster, a newspaper publisher, or an owner or operator of other communications media is not civilly liable for participating in a missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plan or for participating in the actual implementation of a plan if the broadcaster, publisher, or owner or operator has verified the authenticity of the plan's implementation with the law enforcement agency.

(d)In this section, “vulnerable adult” means a person 18 years of age or older who, because of physical or mental impairment, is unable to meet the person's own needs or to seek help without assistance.