|
|
Riley signs Missing Senior Citizen Law
By Liz Nelson, www.Fox10tv.com
July 24, 4009
Friday afternoon, Governor Riley will publicly sign the "Missing Senior Citizen Alert Act" into Alabama law. The Missing Senior Citizen Alert Act, to also be referred to as an MSA by the Department of Public Safety and the ABA, is designed to aid in the safe recovery of missing senior citizens who are at risk of bodily harm or death.
ABA President Sharon Tinsley, ABA Board Chairman Walt Williams III of Williams Communications and David Woods, owner and General Manager of WCOV-TV in Montgomery will be present for the signing.
The MSA is enacted to provide a rapid response from law enforcement and gain the voluntary assistance of the broadcast media to help locate missing senior citizens. The MSA will be issued similarly to a Media Alert sent out via email and fax when a child or young adult does not meet Amber Alert criteria.
The MSA will not utilize the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Research indicates that missing seniors are likely to be found within a few miles of the location they were last seen. Therefore, Missing Senior Citizen Alerts will be sent to radio and TV stations in the missing person's community.
The Alabama Broadcasters Association will partner with the Alabama Department of Public Safety in this endeavor. The DPS will establish protocol whereby local law enforcement officials request an MSA from the Alabama DPS. If granted, DPS will send alerts in addition to notifying the ABA. The ABA will e-mail stations in the appropriate community when the alert is activated and cancelled.
Representative Jeremy Oden of Alabama's 11th District and Senator Trip Pittman of Alabama's 32nd District sponsored the legislation at the urging of the "Silver-Haired Legislature." The ABA and DPS worked closely to assist in the drafting of the Act's language. Faye Hester (Faye.hester@dps.alabama.gov)), a criminal analyst with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, AL DPS and the Center for Missing Children, will coordinate the MSAs at state level. She is responsible for this task under the Amber Alert program, as well.
More Information on US Health Issues
|
|
