Sec. 4. Green alert coordinator
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/bill/118/hr/3775/ih/section-4A 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 Green Alert communications network. The individual so designated shall be known as the Green Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice (referred to in this Act as the Coordinator ). In acting as the national coordinator of the Green Alert communications network, the Coordinator shall— work with States and Tribal governments to encourage the development of additional Green Alert plans in the network; assess the ability of each State to implement Green Alerts, including the ability and resources available to each State to broadcast such alerts; establish voluntary guidelines for States to use in developing Green Alert plans that will promote compatible and integrated Green Alert plans throughout the United States, including— a list of the resources necessary to establish a Green Alert plan; criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants issuing a Green Alert, taking into consideration the need to prevent overuse or desensitization to such alerts, including criteria to determine— whether the mental or physical capacity of a veteran who is missing, and the circumstances of his or her disappearance, warrant the issuance of a Green Alert, including whether the veteran has a condition related to the veteran’s service in the Armed Forces that increases the risk that the veteran will harm himself or herself, or another person; and whether the individual who reports that a veteran is missing is an appropriate and credible source on which to base the issuance of a Green Alert; a description of the appropriate uses of the Green Alert name to readily identify the nature of search efforts for missing veterans; and recommendations on how to protect the privacy, dignity, independence, and autonomy of any missing veteran who may be the subject of a Green Alert; develop proposed protocols for efforts to recover missing veterans and to reduce the number of veterans who are reported missing, including protocols for procedures that are needed from the time of initial notification of a law enforcement agency that the veteran is missing through the time of the return of the veteran 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 and Tribal governments to ensure appropriate regional coordination of various elements of the network; establish an advisory board to assist States, Tribal governments, units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and other entities involved in the Green Alert communications network with initiating, facilitating, and promoting Green 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 veteran advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, and public safety communications; broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, and radio station personnel; representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and representatives of State veterans agencies or offices; federally recognized tribes or tribes recognized by the State; and representatives of any other individuals or organizations that the Coordinator determines are necessary to the success of the Green Alert communications network; and act as the nationwide point of contact for— the development of the network; and regional coordination of alerts for missing veterans through the network.
The Coordinator shall coordinate and consult with the Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of the Interior, 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, Tribal, 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 Green 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 Green Alert plans; a list of States that are in the process of establishing Green Alert plans; for each State that has established such a plan, to the extent the data is available— the number of Green Alerts issued; a summary of the efforts by the State to coordinate with and engage tribal governments and ensure that tribal communities are included in their Green Alert plans, including in the issuance of Green Alerts; the number of individuals located successfully; the average period of time between the issuance of a Green Alert and the location of the individual for whom such Alert was issued; the State, local, or Tribal agencies or authorities issuing Green Alerts, and the process by which Green Alerts are disseminated; the cost of establishing and operating such a plan; the criteria used by the State to determine whether to issue a Green Alert; and the extent to which missing individuals for whom Green Alerts were issued crossed State lines; actions States have taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the individuals for whom Green 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.