IB 
Union Calendar No. 531 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6064 
[Report No. 110–825] 
To encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans throughout the 
United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2008 
Mr. DOGGETT (for himself, Mr. BECERRA, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, 
Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. FILNER, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. GENE GREEN 
of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. JACKSON-LEE 
of Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. LARSON of Con-
necticut, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. 
MILLER of North Carolina, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. 
PRICE of North Carolina, Ms. LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of California, Ms. 
SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. STARK, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. VAN 
HOLLEN, Ms. SCHWARTZ, Mr. STUPAK, Ms. CLARKE, Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. 
CARSON, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, and Mr. GONZALEZ) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. COLE of 
Oklahoma, Ms. GIFFORDS, Mr. KIND, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. WASSERMAN 
SCHULTZ, Mr. HONDA, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. REYES, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 
SIRES, Mr. NADLER, Ms. CASTOR, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. SNY-
DER, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. 
FARR, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. WATSON, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
CARNAHAN, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. 
KLEIN of Florida, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. BLUMENAUER, 
Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. WAXMAN, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. WATERS, Mr. BILIRAKIS, 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. FALLIN, and Mr. MARKEY 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
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[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 15, 2008] 
A BILL 
To encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert plans 
throughout the United States. 
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’’. 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this title: 
(1) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the 
50 States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Is-
lands, 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 
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(B) meets the requirements to be designated 
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, fa-
cilitation, and promotion of local elements of the network 
(known as Silver Alert plans) in coordination with States, 
units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and 
other concerned entities with expertise in providing services 
to seniors. 
SEC. 104. SILVER ALERT COORDINATOR. 
(a) NATIONAL COORDINATOR WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF 
JUSTICE.—The Attorney General shall designate an indi-
vidual of the Department of Justice to act as the national 
coordinator of the Silver Alert communications network. 
The individual so designated shall be known as the Silver 
Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice (referred to 
in this title as the ‘‘Coordinator’’). 
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(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 promote 
compatible and integrated Silver Alert plans through-
out the United States, including— 
(A) a list of the resources necessary to estab-
lish 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 effectiveness of 
the Silver Alert communications network may be 
affected by overuse, including criteria to deter-
mine— 
(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 
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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 autonomy of 
any missing senior who may be the subject 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 initial 
notification of a law enforcement agency that the sen-
ior is missing through the time of the return of the 
senior to family, guardian, or domicile, as appro-
priate, including— 
(A) public safety communications protocol; 
(B) case management protocol; 
(C) command center operations; 
(D) reunification protocol; and 
(E) incident review, evaluation, debriefing, 
and public information procedures; 
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(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 commu-
nications network with initiating, facilitating, and 
promoting Silver Alert plans, which shall include— 
(A) to the maximum extent practicable, rep-
resentation from the various geographic regions 
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-
cess of the Silver Alert communications net-
work; and 
(6) act as the nationwide point of contact for— 
(A) the development of the network; and 
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(B) regional coordination of alerts for miss-
ing seniors through the network. 
(c) COORDINATION.— 
(1) COORDINATION
WITH
OTHER
AGENCIES.— 
The Coordinator shall coordinate and consult with the 
Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Communica-
tions Commission, the Assistant Secretary for Aging 
of the Department of Health and Human Services, 
the head of the Missing Alzheimer’s Disease 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 Co-
ordinator 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 report on the 
activities of the Coordinator and the effectiveness 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— 
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(1) a list of States that have established Silver 
Alert plans; 
(2) a list of States that are in the process of es-
tablishing 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 
(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; 
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(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 deter-
mines to be appropriate. 
SEC. 105. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE AND DIS-
SEMINATION OF ALERTS THROUGH SILVER 
ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM STANDARDS.—Sub-
ject to subsection (b), the Coordinator shall establish min-
imum 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 minimum 
standards established under subsection (a) of this sec-
tion, and any other guidelines and programs estab-
lished under section 104, shall be adoptable on a vol-
untary basis only. 
(2) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—The min-
imum standards shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable (as determined by the Coordinator in consulta-
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tion with State and local law enforcement agencies), 
provide that appropriate information relating to the 
special needs of a missing senior (including 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 de-
termined 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 stand-
ards shall not include any specific age requirement 
for an individual to be classified as a missing senior 
for purposes of the Silver Alert communication net-
work. 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— 
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(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 seniors. 
(6) STATE AND LOCAL VOLUNTARY COORDINA-
TION.—In carrying out the activities under subsection 
(a), the Coordinator may not interfere with the cur-
rent system of voluntary coordination between local 
broadcasters and State and local law enforcement 
agencies for purposes of the Silver Alert communica-
tions network. 
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 concerned 
entities that are involved in initiating, facilitating, or pro-
moting Silver Alert plans, including broadcasters, first re-
sponders, dispatchers, public safety communications per-
sonnel, and radio station personnel— 
(1) training and educational programs related to 
the Silver Alert communication network and the ca-
pabilities, limitations, and anticipated behaviors of 
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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 brochures, 
videos, posters, and web sites to support and supple-
ment 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 devel-
oping the training and educational programs and 
materials under subsection (a); and 
(2) with the head of the Missing Alzheimer’s Dis-
ease Patient Alert Program within the Department of 
Justice, to determine if any existing material with re-
spect to training programs or educational materials 
developed or used as part of such Patient Alert Pro-
gram are appropriate and may be used for the pro-
grams under subsection (a). 
SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 
SILVER ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Justice such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out the Silver Alert communications network as authorized 
under this title. 
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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 ac-
tivities for the support of Silver Alert plans and the Silver 
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; 
(2) the development and implementation of law 
enforcement programs, and associated equipment, re-
lating 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 General 
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. 
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(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 requirements, 
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 fis-
cal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out this section 
and, in addition, $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2009 through 2013 to carry out subsection 
(b)(3). 
(2) Amounts appropriated pursuant to the au-
thorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall 
remain available until expended. 
SEC. 109. SAMMY KIRK VOLUNTARY ELECTRONIC MONI-
TORING PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Attorney General, 
after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, is authorized to award grants to States and units 
of local government to carry out programs to provide vol-
untary electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals 
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to assist in the location of such individuals if such individ-
uals are reported as missing. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2014. 
(c) DESIGNATION.—The grant program authorized 
under this section shall be referred to as the ‘‘Sammy Kirk 
Voluntary Electronic Monitoring Program’’. 
TITLE II—KRISTEN’S ACT 
REAUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as ‘‘Kristen’s Act Reauthoriza-
tion of 2008’’. 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Every year thousands of adults become miss-
ing due to advanced age, diminished mental capacity, 
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 phys-
ical harm and sexual exploitation. 
(3) In most cases, families and local law enforce-
ment officials have neither the resources nor the ex-
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pertise to undertake appropriate search efforts for a 
missing adult. 
(4) The search for a missing adult requires co-
operation and coordination among Federal, State, 
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 ca-
pacity, or the circumstances of disappearance, 
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when foul play is suspected or circumstances are 
unknown; 
(C) coordinate public and private programs 
that locate or recover missing adults or reunite 
missing adults with their families; 
(D) provide assistance and training to law 
enforcement agencies, State and local govern-
ments, elements of the criminal justice system, 
nonprofit organizations, and individuals in the 
prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treat-
ment of cases involving missing adults; 
(E) provide assistance to families in locat-
ing and recovering missing adults; and 
(F) assist in public notification and victim 
advocacy related to missing adults. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—The Attorney General shall 
periodically solicit applications for grants under this 
section by publishing a request for applications in the 
Federal Register and by posting such a request on the 
website of the Department of Justice. 
(b) OTHER DUTIES.—The Attorney General shall— 
(1) coordinate programs relating to missing 
adults that are funded by the Federal Government; 
and 
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(2) encourage coordination between State and 
local law enforcement and public agencies and non-
profit private organizations receiving a grant pursu-
ant to subsection (a). 
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
2019. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘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 pur-
poses.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 531 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6064 
[Report No. 110–825] 
A BILL 
To encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert 
plans throughout the United States. 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed 
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