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.

Bill: 111-hr-632
Sponsor: Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-25]
Introduced: 2009-01-22 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Aging
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Emergency communications systems
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-22
text: 
National Silver Alert Act 2009 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a national Silver Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors; (2) assign a DOJ officer to serve as the Silver Alert Coordinator to coordinate the network with states; and (3) award grants to states for support of Silver Alert plans and the network. Defines &quot;missing senior&quot; as any individual who is reported as missing to or by a law enforcement agency and who meets state requirements for designation as a missing senior. 
 
Directs the Coordinator to: (1) establish minimum standards for the issuance and dissemination of alerts issued through the network; and (2) make available to states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other concerned entities network training and information.
 
Kristen's Act Reauthorization of 2009 - Directs the Attorney General to make competitive grants to public agencies and/or nonprofit private organizations to: (1) maintain a national resource center and database for tracking missing adults; and (2) provide assistance and to law enforcement agencies, families, and victim advocates in locating and recovering missing adults.

action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Title I: Silver Alert Communications Network
 - National Silver Alert Act 2009 - (Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to establish a national Silver Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors in coordination with states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies. Defines &quot;missing senior&quot; as any individual who is reported to, or identified by, a law enforcement agency as a missing person and who meets state requirements for designation.

(Sec. 104) Directs the Attorney General to designate a DOJ employee as the National Coordinator of the Silver Alert communications network. Sets forth the duties of the Coordinator, including the establishment of voluntary guidelines for states to use in developing Silver Alert plans, the development of protocols for efforts to recover missing seniors and for notifying law enforcement agencies that a senior is missing, and the establishment of an advisory group to assist states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other entities involved in the network.

Directs the Coordinator to: (1) report to Congress annually on the Coordinator's activities and the effectiveness and status of the Silver Alert plans of each state; (2) establish minimum standards for the issuance of alerts through the network; (3) make available to states, local governments, law enforcement and other agencies training and educational programs and materials; and (4) coordinate training and educational activities with the Assistant Secretary for Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) and the head of the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program within DOJ. 

(Sec. 107) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Silver Alert communications network.

(Sec. 108) Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to states for the development and enhancement of state programs and activities to support Silver Alert plans and the network. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013

Title II: Kristen's Act Reauthorization
 - Kristen's Act Reauthorization of 2009 - (Sec. 203) Directs the Attorney General to make competitive grants to public agencies or nonprofit private organizations to: (1) maintain a national resource center and information clearinghouse for missing and unidentified adults; (2) maintain a national, interconnected database to track missing adults endangered due to age, diminished mental capacity, or the the circumstances of disappearance, when foul play is suspected or circumstances are unknown; (3) coordinate public and private programs that locate or recover missing adults; (4) provide assistance and training to law enforcement agencies, state and local governments, and other agencies involved with missing adults; (5) provide assistance to families in locating and recovering missing adults; and (6) assist in public notification and victim advocacy related to missing adults. 

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) periodically solicit applications for grants using the Federal Register and the DOJ website; (2) coordinate federally-funded programs relating to missing adults; and (3) encourage coordination among grant recipients. 

(Sec. 204) Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1123-1125)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1123-1125)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 632.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1123-1128)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Mr. Johnson (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2009-01-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-01-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-22
text: Introduced in House