§21904 Minimum Standards for Issuance and Dissemination of Alerts Through Ashanti Alert Communications Network

Summary

The Coordinator must set minimum standards for when Ashanti Alert messages are sent and how widely they are shared through the Ashanti Alert communications network. Those standards, as much as possible and after talking with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement, must let officials know if a missing adult has special needs (like health needs). Alerts must be sent only to areas the person could reasonably reach, based on their condition, how they might travel, and what happened. An Ashanti Alert can be issued only if the adult has a documented mental or physical disability or if law enforcement finds the disappearance may endanger their safety or may be an abduction. The rules must follow privacy laws, protect civil liberties and medical information, and include checks like court records or past law enforcement contacts to guard against domestic violence. The Coordinator may not interfere with voluntary local broadcaster-law enforcement systems that were in place the day before December 31, 2018.