Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015
PL 114-12 (S.665), enacted 05/19/2015

129 STAT. 192 
PUBLIC LAW 114–12—MAY 19, 2015 
Public Law 114–12 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans throughout the United 
States in order to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer is 
seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, is missing in connection with 
the officer’s official duties, or an imminent and credible threat that an individual 
intends to cause the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer is 
received, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rafael Ramos and Wenjian 
Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COORDINATOR.—The term ‘‘Coordinator’’ means the Blue 
Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice designated 
under section 4(a). 
(2) BLUE ALERT.—The term ‘‘Blue Alert’’ means information 
sent through the network relating to— 
(A) the serious injury or death of a law enforcement 
officer in the line of duty; 
(B) an officer who is missing in connection with the 
officer’s official duties; or 
(C) an imminent and credible threat that an individual 
intends to cause the serious injury or death of a law 
enforcement officer. 
(3) BLUE ALERT PLAN.—The term ‘‘Blue Alert plan’’ means 
the plan of a State, unit of local government, or Federal agency 
participating in the network for the dissemination of informa-
tion received as a Blue Alert. 
(4) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.—The term ‘‘law enforce-
ment officer’’ shall have the same meaning as in section 1204 
of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 3796b). 
(5) NETWORK.—The term ‘‘network’’ means the Blue Alert 
communications network established by the Attorney General 
under section 3. 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the 50 States, 
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands. 
42 USC 14165. 
Rafael Ramos 
and Wenjian Liu 
National Blue 
Alert Act of 2015. 
42 USC 13701 
note. 
May 19, 2015 
[S. 665] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00190
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
129 STAT. 193 
PUBLIC LAW 114–12—MAY 19, 2015 
SEC. 3. BLUE ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. 
The Attorney General shall establish a national Blue Alert 
communications network within the Department of Justice to issue 
Blue Alerts through the initiation, facilitation, and promotion of 
Blue Alert plans, in coordination with States, units of local govern-
ment, law enforcement agencies, and other appropriate entities. 
SEC. 4. BLUE ALERT COORDINATOR; GUIDELINES. 
(a) COORDINATION
WITHIN
DEPARTMENT
OF
JUSTICE.—The 
Attorney General shall assign an existing officer of the Department 
of Justice to act as the national coordinator of the Blue Alert 
communications network. 
(b) DUTIES
OF
THE COORDINATOR.—The Coordinator shall— 
(1) provide assistance to States and units of local govern-
ment that are using Blue Alert plans; 
(2) establish voluntary guidelines for States and units of 
local government to use in developing Blue Alert plans that 
will promote compatible and integrated Blue Alert plans 
throughout the United States, including— 
(A) a list of the resources necessary to establish a 
Blue Alert plan; 
(B) criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants 
issuing a Blue Alert; 
(C) guidelines to protect the privacy, dignity, independ-
ence, and autonomy of any law enforcement officer who 
may be the subject of a Blue Alert and the family of 
the law enforcement officer; 
(D) guidelines that a Blue Alert should only be issued 
with respect to a law enforcement officer if— 
(i) the law enforcement agency involved— 
(I) confirms— 
(aa) the death or serious injury of the 
law enforcement officer; or 
(bb) the attack on the law enforcement 
officer and that there is an indication of the 
death or serious injury of the officer; or 
(II) concludes that the law enforcement officer 
is missing in connection with the officer’s official 
duties; 
(ii) there is an indication of serious injury to or 
death of the law enforcement officer; 
(iii) 
the 
suspect 
involved 
has 
not 
been 
apprehended; and 
(iv) there is sufficient descriptive information of 
the suspect involved and any relevant vehicle and tag 
numbers; 
(E) guidelines that a Blue Alert should only be issued 
with respect to a threat to cause death or serious injury 
to a law enforcement officer if— 
(i) a law enforcement agency involved confirms 
that the threat is imminent and credible; 
(ii) at the time of receipt of the threat, the suspect 
is wanted by a law enforcement agency; 
(iii) 
the 
suspect 
involved 
has 
not 
been 
apprehended; and 
Assignment. 
42 USC 14165b. 
Establishment. 
42 USC 14165a. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00191
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
129 STAT. 194 
PUBLIC LAW 114–12—MAY 19, 2015 
(iv) there is sufficient descriptive information of 
the suspect involved and any relevant vehicle and tag 
numbers; 
(F) guidelines— 
(i) that information should be provided to the 
National Crime Information Center database operated 
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under section 
534 of title 28, United States Code, and any relevant 
crime information repository of the State involved, 
relating to— 
(I) a law enforcement officer who is seriously 
injured or killed in the line of duty; or 
(II) an imminent and credible threat to cause 
the serious injury or death of a law enforcement 
officer; 
(ii) that a Blue Alert should, to the maximum 
extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator 
in consultation with law enforcement agencies of States 
and units of local governments), be limited to the 
geographic areas most likely to facilitate the apprehen-
sion of the suspect involved or which the suspect could 
reasonably reach, which should not be limited to State 
lines; 
(iii) for law enforcement agencies of States or units 
of local government to develop plans to communicate 
information to neighboring States to provide for seam-
less communication of a Blue Alert; and 
(iv) providing that a Blue Alert should be sus-
pended when the suspect involved is apprehended or 
when the law enforcement agency involved determines 
that the Blue Alert is no longer effective; and 
(G) guidelines for— 
(i) the issuance of Blue Alerts through the network; 
and 
(ii) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued 
through the network; 
(3) develop protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects that 
address activities during the period beginning at the time of 
the initial notification of a law enforcement agency that a 
suspect has not been apprehended and ending at the time 
of apprehension of a suspect or when the law enforcement 
agency involved determines that the Blue Alert is no longer 
effective, including protocols regulating— 
(A) the use of public safety communications; 
(B) command center operations; and 
(C) incident review, evaluation, debriefing, and public 
information procedures; 
(4) work with States to ensure appropriate regional 
coordination of various elements of the network; 
(5) establish an advisory group to assist States, units of 
local government, law enforcement agencies, and other entities 
involved in the network with initiating, facilitating, and pro-
moting Blue Alert plans, which shall include— 
(A) to the maximum extent practicable, representation 
from the various geographic regions of the United States; 
and 
(B) members who are— 
Establishment. 
Protocols. 
Time period. 
Determination. 
Consultation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00192
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
129 STAT. 195 
PUBLIC LAW 114–12—MAY 19, 2015 
(i) representatives of a law enforcement organiza-
tion representing rank-and-file officers; 
(ii) representatives of other law enforcement agen-
cies and public safety communications; 
(iii) broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, and 
radio station personnel; and 
(iv) representatives of any other individuals or 
organizations that the Coordinator determines are nec-
essary to the success of the network; 
(6) act as the nationwide point of contact for— 
(A) the development of the network; and 
(B) regional coordination of Blue Alerts through the 
network; and 
(7) determine— 
(A) what procedures and practices are in use for noti-
fying law enforcement and the public when— 
(i) a law enforcement officer is killed or seriously 
injured in the line of duty; 
(ii) a law enforcement officer is missing in connec-
tion with the officer’s official duties; and 
(iii) an imminent and credible threat to kill or 
seriously injure a law enforcement officer is received; 
and 
(B) which of the procedures and practices are effective 
and that do not require the expenditure of additional 
resources to implement. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The guidelines established 
under subsection (b)(2), protocols developed under subsection 
(b)(3), and other programs established under subsection (b), 
shall not be mandatory. 
(2) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—The guidelines estab-
lished under subsection (b)(2) shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation 
with law enforcement agencies of States and units of local 
government), provide that appropriate information relating to 
a Blue Alert is disseminated to the appropriate officials of 
law enforcement agencies, public health agencies, and other 
agencies. 
(3) PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES PROTECTIONS.—The guide-
lines established under subsection (b) shall— 
(A) provide mechanisms that ensure that Blue Alerts 
comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local privacy 
laws and regulations; and 
(B) include standards that specifically provide for the 
protection of the civil liberties, including the privacy, of 
law enforcement officers who are seriously injured or killed 
in the line of duty, is missing in connection with the officer’s 
official duties, or who are threatened with death or serious 
injury, and the families of the officers. 
(d) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—The Coordinator 
shall cooperate with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Sec-
retary of Transportation, the Chairman of the Federal Communica-
tions Commission, and appropriate offices of the Department of 
Justice in carrying out activities under this Act. 
(e) RESTRICTIONS
ON COORDINATOR.—The Coordinator may 
not— 
Determination. 
Consultation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00193
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)
129 STAT. 196 
PUBLIC LAW 114–12—MAY 19, 2015 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 665: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 
Apr. 30, considered and passed Senate. 
May 12, considered and passed House. 
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2015): 
May 19, Presidential remarks. 
(1) perform any official travel for the sole purpose of car-
rying out the duties of the Coordinator; 
(2) lobby any officer of a State regarding the funding or 
implementation of a Blue Alert plan; or 
(3) host a conference focused solely on the Blue Alert pro-
gram that requires the expenditure of Federal funds. 
(f) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 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 Blue Alert plans that are in effect 
or being developed. 
Approved May 19, 2015. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
14:32 Mar 03, 2022
Jkt 049194
PO 00001
Frm 00194
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
G:\STATUTES\2015\PT1\49194PT1.001
49194PT1
dkrause on LAP5T8D0R2PROD with DISTILLER (1)