TITLE 42

State Affairs and Government

CHAPTER 42-28

State Police

SECTION 42-28-3.3



   § 42-28-3.3  Senior citizen alert. –

(a) The general assembly hereby finds that, in the case of a missing senior

citizen, the first few hours are critical in finding such senior citizen, and

that the implementation of a Missing Senior Citizen Alert program is necessary

for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.



   (b) The division of state police, in consultation with other

appropriate agencies, including without limitation, the Rhode Island department

of health, shall develop a voluntary partnership among law enforcement

agencies, media outlets and other appropriate entities to send out emergency

alerts entitled the "Missing Senior Citizen Alert Program."



   (c) For purposes of § 42-28-3.3 and § 42-28-3.4, a

"Missing Senior Citizen" means a person:



   (i) Whose whereabouts are unknown;



   (ii) Whose domicile at the time he or she is reported missing

is Rhode Island;



   (iii) Whose age at the time he or she is reported missing is

sixty (60) years of age or older, or is a person with a diagnosis of dementia;



   (iv) Who has an impaired mental condition; and



   (v) Whose disappearance poses a credible threat to the safety

and health of such person, as determined by the state police or other law

enforcement agency.



   (d) The impaired mental condition shall be demonstrated by

the appropriate documentation presented by the missing senior citizen's family,

legal guardian, long-term care ombudsman, or long-term care facility where such

person resides.



   (e) The missing senior citizen alert program shall provide a

pro-active emergency public alert plan as part of the response to the

disappearance of a missing senior citizen that may be expediently triggered by

law enforcement personnel in accordance with protocols and procedures

established by the division of state police in consultation with appropriate

law enforcement authorities, the Rhode Island emergency management agency, the

Rhode Island department of health, state and local officials and cooperating

members of the broadcast media ("Missing Senior Citizen Alert").



   (f) Once a law enforcement agency has confirmed the

disappearance of a missing senior citizen, the law enforcement agency will

obtain descriptive information for the missing senior citizen alert, contact

the state police to provide the descriptive information to the state police and

identify a point of contact within its agency.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2008, ch. 444, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 472, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch.

116, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 145, § 1.)