I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 362

To enhance the operation of the AMBER Alert communications network 

in order to facilitate the recovery of abducted children, to provide for 

enhanced notification on highways of alerts and information on such 

children, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 27, 2003

Mr. HEFLEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by 

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To enhance the operation of the AMBER Alert communications network in order to facilitate the recovery of abducted children, to provide for enhanced notification on 

highways of alerts and information on such children, 

and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National AMBER 

5 Alert Network Act of 2003’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. NATIONAL COORDINATION OF AMBER ALERT COM2 MUNICATIONS NETWORK. 

3 (a) COORDINATION WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF JUS4 TICE.—The Attorney General shall assign an officer of the 

5 Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator 

6 of the AMBER Alert communications network regarding 

7 abducted children. The officer so designated shall be 

8 known as the ‘‘AMBER Alert Coordinator of the Depart9 ment of Justice’’. 

10 (b) DUTIES.—In acting as the national coordinator 

11 of the AMBER Alert communications network, the Coor12 dinator shall—

13 (1) seek to eliminate gaps in the network, in14 cluding gaps in areas of interstate travel; 

15 (2) work with States to encourage the develop16 ment of additional elements in the network (known 

17 as local AMBER plans); 

18 (3) work with States to ensure appropriate re19 gional coordination of various elements of the net20 work; and 

21 (4) act as the nationwide point of contact for—

22 (A) the development of the network; and 

23 (B) regional coordination of alerts on ab24 ducted children through the network. 

25 (c) CONSULTATION WITH FEDERAL BUREAU OF IN26 VESTIGATION.—In carrying out duties under subsection 
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1 (b), the Coordinator shall notify and consult with the Di2 rector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning 

3 each child abduction for which an alert is issued through 

4 the AMBER Alert communications network. 

5 (d) COOPERATION.—The Coordinator shall cooperate 

6 with the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal 

7 Communications Commission in carrying out activities 

8 under this section. 

9 SEC. 3. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE AND DIS10 SEMINATION OF ALERTS THROUGH AMBER 

11 ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 

12 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS.—

13 Subject to subsection (b), the AMBER Alert Coordinator 

14 of the Department of Justice shall establish minimum 

15 standards for—

16 (1) the issuance of alerts through the AMBER 

17 Alert communications network; and 

18 (2) the extent of the dissemination of alerts 

19 issued through the network. 

20 (b) LIMITATIONS.—

21 (1) ADOPTABLE ON VOLUNTARY BASIS.—The 

22 minimum standards established under subsection (a) 

23 shall be adoptable on a voluntary basis only. 

24 (2) GEOGRAPHIC AREA.—The minimum stand25 ards shall provide, to the maximum extent prac-
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1 ticable (as determined by the Coordinator in con2 sultation with State and local law enforcement agen3 cies), that the dissemination of an alert through the 

4 AMBER Alert communications network be limited 

5 to the geographic areas most likely to facilitate the 

6 recovery of the abducted child concerned. 

7 (3) PROTECTION OF EXISTING SYSTEM.—In 

8 carrying out activities under subsection (a), the Co9 ordinator may not interfere with the system of vol10 untary coordination between local broadcasters and 

11 State and local law enforcement agencies in effect on 

12 the day before the date of enactment of this Act for 

13 purposes of the AMBER Alert communications net14 work. 

15 (c) COOPERATION.—

16 (1) FEDERAL.—The Coordinator shall cooper17 ate with the Secretary of Transportation and the 

18 Federal Communications Commission in carrying 

19 out activities under this section. 

20 (2) STATE AND LOCAL.—The Coordinator shall 

21 also cooperate with local broadcasters and State and 

22 local law enforcement agencies in establishing min23 imum standards under this section.
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1 SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM FOR NOTIFICATION AND COMMU2 NICATIONS SYSTEMS ALONG HIGHWAYS FOR 

3 RECOVERY OF ABDUCTED CHILDREN. 

4 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Trans5 portation shall carry out a program to provide grants to 

6 States for the development or enhancement of notification 

7 or communications systems along highways for alerts and 

8 other information for the recovery of abducted children. 

9 (b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities funded by grants under 

10 the program under subsection (a) may include—

11 (1) the development or enhancement of elec12 tronic message boards along highways and the place13 ment of additional signage along highways; and 

14 (2) the development or enhancement of other 

15 means of disseminating alerts and other information 

16 for the recovery of abducted children along high17 ways. 

18 (c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 

19 of any activities funded by a grant under the program 

20 under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent. 

21 (d) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT AMOUNTS ON GEO22 GRAPHIC BASIS.—The Secretary shall ensure, to the max23 imum extent practicable, the distribution of grants under 

24 the program under subsection (a) on an equitable basis 

25 throughout the various regions of the United States. 
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1 (e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall prescribe 

2 requirements, including application requirements, for 

3 grants under the program under subsection (a). 

4 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

6 appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to 

7 carry out this section. 

8 (2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Amounts ap9 propriated pursuant to the authorization of appro10 priations in paragraph (1) shall remain available 

11 until expended. 

12 SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF AMBER ALERT 

13 COMMUNICATIONS PLANS. 

14 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Attorney General 

15 shall carry out a program to provide grants to States for 

16 the development or enhancement of programs and activi17 ties for the support of AMBER Alert communications 

18 plans. 

19 (b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities funded by grants under 

20 the program under subsection (a) may include—

21 (1) the development and implementation of edu22 cation and training programs, and associated mate23 rials, relating to AMBER Alert communications 

24 plans; 
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1 (2) the development and implementation of law 

2 enforcement programs, and associated equipment, 

3 relating to AMBER Alert communications plans; 

4 and 

5 (3) such other activities as the Secretary con6 siders appropriate for supporting the AMBER Alert 

7 communications program. 

8 (c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 

9 of any activities funded by a grant under the program 

10 under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent. 

11 (d) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT AMOUNTS ON GEO12 GRAPHIC BASIS.—The Attorney General shall ensure, to 

13 the maximum extent practicable, the distribution of grants 

14 under the program under subsection (a) on an equitable 

15 basis throughout the various regions of the United States. 

16 (e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Attorney General shall 

17 prescribe requirements, including application require18 ments, for grants under the program under subsection (a). 

19 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

21 appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 to 

22 carry out this section. 

23 (2) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—Amounts ap24 propriated pursuant to the authorization of appro-
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1 priations in paragraph (1) shall remain available 

2 until expended.

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