Sec. 4. Ashanti alert coordinator
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/bill/115/hr/5075/rfs/section-4·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Attorney General shall designate an individual of the Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator of the Ashanti Alert communications network. The individual so designated shall be known as the Ashanti Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice (referred to in this Act as the Coordinator ). In acting as the national coordinator of the Ashanti Alert communications network, the Coordinator shall— work with States to encourage the development of additional Ashanti Alert plans in the network; establish voluntary guidelines for States to use in developing Ashanti Alert plans that will promote compatible and integrated Ashanti Alert plans throughout the United States, including— a list of the resources necessary to establish an Ashanti Alert plan; criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants issuing an Ashanti Alert, taking into consideration the need for the use of such Alerts to be limited in scope because the effectiveness of the Ashanti Alert communications network may be affected by overuse, including criteria to determine— whether the mental capacity of an adult who is missing, and the circumstances of his or her disappearance, warrant the issuance of an Ashanti Alert; and whether the individual who reports that an adult is missing is an appropriate and credible source on which to base the issuance of an Ashanti Alert; a description of the appropriate uses of the Ashanti Alert name to readily identify the nature of search efforts for missing adults; and recommendations on how to protect the privacy, dignity, independence, and autonomy of any missing adult who may be the subject of an Ashanti Alert; develop proposed protocols for efforts to recover missing adults and to reduce the number of adults who are reported missing, including protocols for procedures that are needed from the time of initial notification of a law enforcement agency that the adult is missing through the time of the return of the adult to family, guardian, or domicile, as appropriate, including— public safety communications protocol; case management protocol; command center operations; reunification protocol; and incident review, evaluation, debriefing, and public information procedures; work with States to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network; establish an advisory group to assist States, units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and other entities involved in the Ashanti Alert communications network with initiating, facilitating, and promoting Ashanti Alert plans, which shall include— to the maximum extent practicable, representation from the various geographic regions of the United States; and members who are— representatives of adult citizen advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, and public safety communications; broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, and radio station personnel; and representatives of any other individuals or organizations that the Coordinator determines are necessary to the success of the Ashanti Alert communications network; and act as the nationwide point of contact for— the development of the network; and regional coordination of alerts for missing adults through the network.
The Coordinator shall coordinate and consult with the Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, the Assistant Secretary for Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services, and other appropriate offices of the Department of Justice in carrying out activities under this Act. The Coordinator shall consult with local broadcasters and State and local law enforcement agencies in establishing minimum standards under section 5 and in carrying out other activities under this Act, as appropriate.
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Coordinator shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the Coordinator and the effectiveness and status of the Ashanti Alert plans of each State that has established or is in the process of establishing such a plan. Each such report shall include— a list of States that have established Ashanti Alert plans; a list of States that are in the process of establishing Ashanti Alert plans; for each State that has established such a plan, to the extent the data is available— the number of Ashanti Alerts issued; the number of individuals located successfully; the average period of time between the issuance of an Ashanti Alert and the location of the individual for whom such Alert was issued; the State agency or authority issuing Ashanti Alerts, and the process by which Ashanti Alerts are disseminated; the cost of establishing and operating such a plan; the criteria used by the State to determine whether to issue an Ashanti Alert; and the extent to which missing individuals for whom Ashanti Alerts were issued crossed State lines; actions States have taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the individuals for whom Ashanti Alerts are issued; ways that States have facilitated and improved communication about missing individuals between families, caregivers, law enforcement officials, and other authorities; and any other information the Coordinator determines to be appropriate.