I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 632 
To encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans throughout the 
United States, to authorize grants for the assistance of organizations 
to find missing adults, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2009 
Mr. DOGGETT (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mrs. MYRICK, Ms. JACKSON-LEE 
of Texas, Mr. SIRES, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. LEWIS 
of Georgia, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. PRICE of North Caro-
lina, and Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans 
throughout the United States, to authorize grants for 
the assistance of organizations to find missing adults, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—SILVER ALERT 
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK 
SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Silver Alert 
Act 2009’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this title: 
(1) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
(2) MISSING SENIOR.—The term ‘‘missing sen-
ior’’ refers to any individual who— 
(A) is reported to, or identified by, a law 
enforcement agency as a missing person; and 
(B) meets the requirements to be des-
ignated as a missing senior, as determined by 
the State in which the individual is reported or 
identified as a missing person. 
SEC. 103. SILVER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 
The Attorney General shall, subject to the availability 
of appropriations under section 107, establish a national 
Silver Alert communications network within the Depart-
ment of Justice to provide assistance to regional and local 
search efforts for missing seniors through the initiation, 
facilitation, and promotion of local elements of the net-
work (known as Silver Alert plans) in coordination with 
States, units of local government, law enforcement agen-
cies, and other concerned entities with expertise in pro-
viding services to seniors. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
SEC. 104. SILVER ALERT COORDINATOR. 
(a) NATIONAL COORDINATOR WITHIN DEPARTMENT 
OF JUSTICE.—The Attorney General shall designate an 
individual of the Department of Justice to act as the na-
tional coordinator of the Silver Alert communications net-
work. The individual so designated shall be known as the 
Silver Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice (re-
ferred to in this title as the ‘‘Coordinator’’). 
(b) DUTIES OF THE COORDINATOR.—In acting as the 
national coordinator of the Silver Alert communications 
network, the Coordinator shall— 
(1) work with States to encourage the develop-
ment of additional Silver Alert plans in the network; 
(2) establish voluntary guidelines for States to 
use in developing Silver Alert plans that will pro-
mote compatible and integrated Silver Alert plans 
throughout the United States, including— 
(A) a list of the resources necessary to es-
tablish a Silver Alert plan; 
(B) criteria for evaluating whether a situa-
tion warrants issuing a Silver Alert, taking into 
consideration the need for the use of such 
Alerts to be limited in scope because the effec-
tiveness of the Silver Alert communications net-
work may be affected by overuse, including cri-
teria to determine— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(i) whether the mental capacity of a 
senior who is missing, and the cir-
cumstances of his or her disappearance, 
warrant the issuance a Silver Alert; and 
(ii) whether the individual who reports 
that a senior is missing is an appropriate 
and credible source on which to base the 
issuance of a Silver Alert; 
(C) a description of the appropriate uses of 
the Silver Alert name to readily identify the na-
ture of search efforts for missing seniors; and 
(D) recommendations on how to protect 
the privacy, dignity, independence, and auton-
omy of any missing senior who may be the sub-
ject of a Silver Alert; 
(3) develop proposed protocols for efforts to re-
cover missing seniors and to reduce the number of 
seniors who are reported missing, including protocols 
for procedures that are needed from the time of ini-
tial notification of a law enforcement agency that 
the senior is missing through the time of the return 
of the senior to family, guardian, or domicile, as ap-
propriate, including— 
(A) public safety communications protocol; 
(B) case management protocol; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(C) command center operations; 
(D) reunification protocol; and 
(E) incident review, evaluation, debriefing, 
and public information procedures; 
(4) work with States to ensure appropriate re-
gional coordination of various elements of the net-
work; 
(5) establish an advisory group to assist States, 
units of local government, law enforcement agencies, 
and other entities involved in the Silver Alert com-
munications network with initiating, facilitating, and 
promoting Silver Alert plans, which shall include— 
(A) to the maximum extent practicable, 
representation from the various geographic re-
gions of the United States; and 
(B) members who are— 
(i) representatives of senior citizen ad-
vocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, 
and public safety communications; 
(ii) broadcasters, first responders, dis-
patchers, and radio station personnel; and 
(iii) representatives of any other indi-
viduals or organizations that the Coordi-
nator determines are necessary to the suc-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
cess of the Silver Alert communications 
network; and 
(6) act as the nationwide point of contact for— 
(A) the development of the network; and 
(B) regional coordination of alerts for 
missing seniors through the network. 
(c) COORDINATION.— 
(1) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.— 
The Coordinator shall coordinate and consult with 
the Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Com-
munications Commission, the Assistant Secretary for 
Aging of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, the head of the Missing Alzheimer’s Dis-
ease Patient Alert Program, and other appropriate 
offices of the Department of Justice in carrying out 
activities under this title. 
(2) STATE
AND
LOCAL
COORDINATION.—The 
Coordinator shall consult with local broadcasters and 
State and local law enforcement agencies in estab-
lishing minimum standards under section 105 and in 
carrying out other activities under this title, as ap-
propriate. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Coordinator shall submit to Congress a re-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
port on the activities of the Coordinator and the effective-
ness and status of the Silver Alert plans of each State 
that has established or is in the process of establishing 
such a plan. Each such report shall include— 
(1) a list of States that have established Silver 
Alert plans; 
(2) a list of States that are in the process of 
establishing Silver Alert plans; 
(3) for each State that has established such a 
plan, to the extent the data is available— 
(A) the number of Silver Alerts issued; 
(B) the number of individuals located suc-
cessfully; 
(C) the average period of time between the 
issuance of a Silver Alert and the location of 
the individual for whom such Alert was issued; 
(D) the State agency or authority issuing 
Silver Alerts, and the process by which Silver 
Alerts are disseminated; 
(E) the cost of establishing and operating 
such a plan; 
(F) the criteria used by the State to deter-
mine whether to issue a Silver Alert; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(G) the extent to which missing individuals 
for whom Silver Alerts were issued crossed 
State lines; 
(4) actions States have taken to protect the pri-
vacy and dignity of the individuals for whom Silver 
Alerts are issued; 
(5) ways that States have facilitated and im-
proved communication about missing individuals be-
tween families, caregivers, law enforcement officials, 
and other authorities; and 
(6) any other information the Coordinator de-
termines to be appropriate. 
SEC. 105. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE AND DIS-
SEMINATION OF ALERTS THROUGH SILVER 
ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS.— 
Subject to subsection (b), the Coordinator shall establish 
minimum standards for— 
(1) the issuance of alerts through the Silver 
Alert communications network; and 
(2) the extent of the dissemination of alerts 
issued through the network. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) VOLUNTARY
PARTICIPATION.—The min-
imum standards established under subsection (a) of 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
this section, and any other guidelines and programs 
established under section 104, shall be adoptable on 
a voluntary basis only. 
(2) DISSEMINATION
OF
INFORMATION.—The 
minimum standards shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in 
consultation with State and local law enforcement 
agencies), provide that appropriate information re-
lating to the special needs of a missing senior (in-
cluding health care needs) are disseminated to the 
appropriate law enforcement, public health, and 
other public officials. 
(3) GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.—The minimum stand-
ards shall, to the maximum extent practicable (as 
determined by the Coordinator in consultation with 
State and local law enforcement agencies), provide 
that the dissemination of an alert through the Silver 
Alert communications network be limited to the geo-
graphic areas which the missing senior could reason-
ably reach, considering the missing senior’s cir-
cumstances and physical and mental condition, the 
modes of transportation available to the missing sen-
ior, and the circumstances of the disappearance. 
(4) 
AGE
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
minimum 
standards shall not include any specific age require-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
ment for an individual to be classified as a missing 
senior for purposes of the Silver Alert communica-
tion network. Age requirements for determinations 
of whether an individual is a missing senior shall be 
determined by each State, and may vary from State 
to State. 
(5) PRIVACY
AND
CIVIL
LIBERTIES
PROTEC-
TIONS.—The minimum standards shall— 
(A) ensure that alerts issued through the 
Silver Alert communications network comply 
with all applicable Federal, State, and local pri-
vacy laws and regulations; and 
(B) include standards that specifically pro-
vide for the protection of the civil liberties and 
sensitive medical information of missing sen-
iors. 
(6) STATE AND LOCAL VOLUNTARY COORDINA-
TION.—In carrying out the activities under sub-
section (a), the Coordinator may not interfere with 
the current system of voluntary coordination be-
tween local broadcasters and State and local law en-
forcement agencies for purposes of the Silver Alert 
communications network. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
SEC. 106. TRAINING AND OTHER RESOURCES. 
(a) TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.—The 
Coordinator shall make available to States, units of local 
government, law enforcement agencies, and other con-
cerned entities that are involved in initiating, facilitating, 
or promoting Silver Alert plans, including broadcasters, 
first responders, dispatchers, public safety communica-
tions personnel, and radio station personnel— 
(1) training and educational programs related 
to the Silver Alert communication network and the 
capabilities, limitations, and anticipated behaviors of 
missing seniors, which shall be updated regularly to 
encourage the use of new tools, technologies, and re-
sources in Silver Alert plans; and 
(2) informational materials, including bro-
chures, videos, posters, and websites to support and 
supplement such training and educational programs. 
(b) COORDINATION.—The Coordinator shall coordi-
nate— 
(1) with the Assistant Secretary for Aging of 
the Department of Health and Human Services in 
developing the training and educational programs 
and materials under subsection (a); and 
(2) with the head of the Missing Alzheimer’s 
Disease Patient Alert Program within the Depart-
ment of Justice, to determine if any existing mate-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
rial with respect to training programs or educational 
materials developed or used as part of such Patient 
Alert Program are appropriate and may be used for 
the programs under subsection (a). 
SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 
SILVER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the De-
partment of Justice such sums as may be necessary to 
carry out the Silver Alert communications network as au-
thorized under this title. 
SEC. 108. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF SILVER 
ALERT PLANS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations to carry out this section, the Attorney Gen-
eral shall carry out a program to provide grants to States 
for the development and enhancement of programs and 
activities for the support of Silver Alert plans and the Sil-
ver Alert communications network. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities funded by grants under 
the program under subsection (a) may include— 
(1) the development and implementation of edu-
cation and training programs, and associated mate-
rials, relating to Silver Alert plans; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(2) the development and implementation of law 
enforcement programs, and associated equipment, 
relating to Silver Alert plans; 
(3) the development and implementation of new 
technologies to improve Silver Alert communications; 
and 
(4) such other activities as the Attorney Gen-
eral considers appropriate for supporting the Silver 
Alert communications network. 
(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of any activities funded by a grant under the program 
under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 percent. 
(d) DISTRIBUTION
OF GRANTS
ON GEOGRAPHIC 
BASIS.—The Attorney General shall, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, ensure the distribution of grants under 
the program under subsection (a) on an equitable basis 
throughout the various regions of the United States. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Attorney General shall 
prescribe requirements, including application require-
ments, for grants under the program under subsection (a). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Department of Justice $5,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out this 
section and, in addition, $5,000,000 for each of the 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out sub-
section (b)(3). 
(2) Amounts appropriated pursuant to the au-
thorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall 
remain available until expended. 
TITLE II—KRISTEN’S ACT 
REAUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as ‘‘Kristen’s Act Reauthor-
ization of 2009’’. 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Every year thousands of adults become 
missing due to advanced age, diminished mental ca-
pacity, or foul play. Often there is no information 
regarding the whereabouts of these adults and many 
of them are never reunited with their families. 
(2) Missing adults are at great risk of both 
physical harm and sexual exploitation. 
(3) In most cases, families and local law en-
forcement officials have neither the resources nor 
the expertise to undertake appropriate search efforts 
for a missing adult. 
(4) The search for a missing adult requires co-
operation and coordination among Federal, State, 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
and local law enforcement agencies and assistance 
from distant communities where the adult may be lo-
cated. 
(5) Federal assistance is urgently needed to 
help with coordination among such agencies. 
SEC. 203. GRANTS FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF ORGANIZA-
TIONS TO FIND MISSING ADULTS. 
(a) GRANTS.— 
(1) GRANT
PROGRAM.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations to carry out this section, 
the Attorney General shall make competitive grants 
to public agencies or nonprofit private organizations, 
or combinations thereof, to— 
(A) maintain a national resource center 
and information clearinghouse for missing and 
unidentified adults; 
(B) maintain a national, interconnected 
database for the purpose of tracking missing 
adults who are determined by law enforcement 
to be endangered due to age, diminished mental 
capacity, or the circumstances of disappearance, 
when foul play is suspected or circumstances 
are unknown; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:07 Jan 23, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H632.IH
H632
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS